Heartless Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

💔
Add to dictionary

heartless

[ˈhɑːrtləs ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adjective

lacking compassion

Having or showing a lack of pity or compassion; cruel or unfeeling. The term 'heartless' is often used to describe someone who is indifferent to the suffering of others.

Synonyms

callous, cold-hearted, cruel, unfeeling, unsympathetic.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

arrow down
Word Description / Examples
heartless

Used to describe someone who shows no compassion or care for others' feelings.

  • It was heartless of him to leave her alone on such a difficult day.
  • She made a heartless remark about their unfortunate situation.
cruel

Used when someone intentionally causes pain and suffering, often with a sense of pleasure in doing so. It has a strongly negative connotation.

  • The dictator was known for his cruel actions against his people.
  • Her cruel words cut him deeply.
unfeeling

Describes someone who lacks emotional sensitivity or concern for others' emotions, often implying a natural incapacity to feel.

  • He gave an unfeeling response to her heartfelt plea.
  • Her unfeeling nature made it difficult for her to make friends.
cold-hearted

Describes someone who is emotionally detached and shows no affection or warmth, similar to 'heartless' but with an added sense of intentional detachment.

  • The cold-hearted decision left many employees jobless.
  • His cold-hearted response made her feel even worse.
callous

Used when someone is insensitive and indifferent to the suffering of others, often suggesting a hard or thick skin.

  • His callous remarks during the meeting shocked everyone.
  • She showed a callous disregard for the poor.
unsympathetic

Used when someone lacks sympathy or concern for others' difficulties or suffering, often in situations where empathy is expected.

  • He was unsympathetic towards the plight of the homeless.
  • Her parents were unsympathetic to her struggles at school.

Examples of usage

  • She was heartless, leaving the poor puppy out in the cold.
  • The heartless dictator showed no mercy towards his own people.
  • The heartless decision to lay off hundreds of employees left many families struggling to make ends meet.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Origin of 'heartless'

The word 'heartless' originated from Middle English, combining 'heart' with the suffix '-less', indicating the absence of heart or compassion. Over the centuries, the term has been used to describe individuals who lack empathy or kindness towards others.


See also: brokenhearted, dishearten, disheartened, disheartening, halfheartedly, heart, heartache, heartbeat, heartbreak, heartbreaker, heartbreaking, heartbreakingly, heartbroken, heartening, heartfelt, heartily, heartland, heartlessly, heartlessness, heartsease, heartthrob, heartwarming, hearty.

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #18,153, this word belongs to specialized vocabulary. While not common in everyday speech, it enriches your ability to express complex ideas.