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Mercilessness: meaning, definitions and examples

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mercilessness

 

[ ˈmɜː.sɪ.lɪs.nəs ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

lack of compassion

Mercilessness is the quality of showing no mercy or compassion towards others. It is the act of being cruel or unforgiving, without any sympathy or empathy.

Synonyms

cruelty, inhumanity, ruthlessness

Examples of usage

  • He was known for his mercilessness towards his enemies.
  • The dictator ruled with an iron fist, showing no mercy or compassion, his mercilessness striking fear into the hearts of the people.
Context #2 | Noun

uncompromising severity

Mercilessness can also refer to the quality of being unyielding and uncompromising in severity or punishment. It is the state of being harsh or strict without any leniency.

Synonyms

harshness, rigor, severity

Examples of usage

  • The judge's mercilessness in sentencing the criminal to life in prison shocked the courtroom.
  • The teacher's mercilessness in grading the exams left the students feeling defeated and discouraged.

Translations

Translations of the word "mercilessness" in other languages:

🇵🇹 implacabilidade

🇮🇳 निर्दयता

🇩🇪 Gnadenlosigkeit

🇮🇩 tanpa ampun

🇺🇦 безжальність

🇵🇱 bezwzględność

🇯🇵 無慈悲

🇫🇷 impitoyabilité

🇪🇸 implacabilidad

🇹🇷 merhametsizlik

🇰🇷 무자비

🇸🇦 عدم الرحمة

🇨🇿 nemilosrdnost

🇸🇰 nemilosrdnosť

🇨🇳 无情

🇸🇮 neizprosnost

🇮🇸 miskunnarleysi

🇰🇿 мейірімсіздік

🇬🇪 უშიშობა

🇦🇿 mərhəmətsizlik

🇲🇽 implacabilidad

Etymology

The word 'mercilessness' originated from the combination of 'mercy' and the suffix '-less', which denotes the absence of a quality. It has been used in the English language since the 15th century to describe the state or quality of being without mercy or compassion. The concept of mercilessness has been explored in various literary works and philosophical discussions, highlighting the moral implications of lacking compassion or empathy towards others.

See also: mercilessly.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #40,855, this word is among the less frequently used terms in English. While interesting to know, it's not crucial for most English learners unless needed for specific purposes.