ruthless

adjective

ruth·less ˈrüth-ləs How to pronounce ruthless (audio)

also ˈru̇th-

: having no pity : merciless, cruel

a ruthless tyrant

ruthlessly adverb

ruthlessness noun

Did you know?

If someone can be ruthless, can one also be ruthful?

Ruthless can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun ruth, which is now considerably less common than ruthless, means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of ruthless is ruthful, meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." Ruthful can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." Ruth can be traced back to the Middle English noun ruthe, itself from ruen, meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow."

Example Sentences

The journalist was ruthless in his criticism. an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings

Recent Examples on the Web Weinman is legendary for writing meticulous and demanding guitar parts and being completely ruthless with his gear.

Spin Staff, SPIN, 6 Sep. 2022 Others weren’t as ruthless and some seemed genuinely compassionate, particularly relating to the addiction angle.

Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2022 Debate had taught me to be complicit, encouraging mental habits—repression, toughness, and female coolness—that eased the way for the strongest or most ruthless to prevail without complaint.

Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Men’s ruthless conquest of power, the resourceful machinations of women and the near absence of diplomacy are all set to propel this narrative.

Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2022 Daemon is a ruthless warrior and an agent of chaos, whose idea of establishing law and order is to brutally maim (and, in one case, castrate) miscreants.

Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Aug. 2022 Some considered the decisions ruthless; others saw them as overdue and courageous.

Annysa Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2022 At least compared to the ruthless Pandemic Housing Boom.

Lance Lambert, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2022 Meidad did this with ruthless beauty, courting Cukurs for months as a property dealer who could make the murderous Latvian rich.

Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 See More

单词	ruthlessness
释义	ruthless adjective ruth·less ˈrüth-ləs also ˈru̇th- : having no pity : merciless, cruel a ruthless tyrant ruthlessly adverb ruthlessness noun Did you know? If someone can be ruthless, can one also be ruthful? Ruthless can be defined as "without ruth" or "having no ruth." So what, then, is ruth? The noun ruth, which is now considerably less common than ruthless, means "compassion for the misery of another," "sorrow for one's own faults," or "remorse." And, just as it is possible for one to be without ruth, it is also possible to be full of ruth. The antonym of ruthless is ruthful, meaning "full of ruth" or "tender." Ruthful can also mean "full of sorrow" or "causing sorrow." Ruth can be traced back to the Middle English noun ruthe, itself from ruen, meaning "to rue" or "to feel regret, remorse, or sorrow." Synonyms affectless callous case-hardened cold-blooded compassionless desensitized hard hard-boiled hard-hearted heartless indurate inhuman inhumane insensate insensitive ironhearted merciless obdurate pachydermatous pitiless remorseless slash-and-burn soulless stony stoney stonyhearted take-no-prisoners thick-skinned uncharitable unfeeling unmerciful unsparing unsympathetic See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The journalist was ruthless in his criticism. an office supervisor with a ruthless disregard for others' feelings Recent Examples on the Web Weinman is legendary for writing meticulous and demanding guitar parts and being completely ruthless with his gear. Spin Staff, SPIN, 6 Sep. 2022 Others weren’t as ruthless and some seemed genuinely compassionate, particularly relating to the addiction angle. Nardine Saad, Los Angeles Times, 1 Sep. 2022 Debate had taught me to be complicit, encouraging mental habits—repression, toughness, and female coolness—that eased the way for the strongest or most ruthless to prevail without complaint. Tess Mcnulty, Harper’s Magazine , 17 Aug. 2022 Men’s ruthless conquest of power, the resourceful machinations of women and the near absence of diplomacy are all set to propel this narrative. Lorraine Ali, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2022 Daemon is a ruthless warrior and an agent of chaos, whose idea of establishing law and order is to brutally maim (and, in one case, castrate) miscreants. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 22 Aug. 2022 Some considered the decisions ruthless; others saw them as overdue and courageous. Annysa Johnson, Journal Sentinel, 22 Aug. 2022 At least compared to the ruthless Pandemic Housing Boom. Lance Lambert, Fortune, 22 Aug. 2022 Meidad did this with ruthless beauty, courting Cukurs for months as a property dealer who could make the murderous Latvian rich. Tunku Varadarajan, WSJ, 19 Aug. 2022 See More Word History First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined above Kids Definition ruthless adjective ruth·less ˈrüth-ləs : having no pity : cruel ruthlessness noun as in mercilessness Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance mercilessness cruelty pitilessness savagery heartlessness sadism barbarity inhumanity ferocity brutality cruelness viciousness savageness ferociousness fiendishness bloodthirstiness hard-heartedness fierceness grimness unfeelingness murderousness truculence malevolence inhumanness barbarousness bloodlust meanness spitefulness wantonness maliciousness sanguinity malignity hatefulness atrociousness atrocity oppressiveness harshness fellness despitefulness sanguineness nastiness cattiness heavy-handedness hardhandedness Antonyms & Near Antonyms compassion sympathy humaneness kindness tenderheartedness humanity kindheartedness tenderness benignity good-heartedness warmth warmness leniency warmheartedness mercy pity charitableness mercifulness clemency See More
随便看	show/see (someone) to the door show/teach (someone) a trick or two showable showbiz showbizzes showbizzy showboard showboat showboated showboater showboaters showboating showboats showbread showbreads showcase showcased showcases showcasing showdown showdown inspection showdowns showed showed (someone) the door showed around

ruthless

adjective

Did you know?

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

adjective

noun