unforgiving
adjective
un·for·giv·ing
ˌən-fər-ˈgi-viŋ 
1
: unwilling or unable to forgive
2
: having or making no allowance for error or weakness
… an unforgiving environment where false moves can prove fatal.—
Jaclyn Fierman
Jaclyn Fierman
unforgivingness
noun
Examples of unforgiving in a Sentence
They are unforgiving of the smallest mistake.
the unforgiving world of politics
Recent Examples on the Web
The tolerance for missing numbers once public is very low, and companies that misstep early will find the market unforgiving (see Klarna stock performance after missing Q4 2025 earnings).
—Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
This approach sets those same children up for failure in an increasingly unforgiving economy.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
His distinctly space-age aesthetic, born of necessity in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments, is now arguably the continent’s prevailing architectural style.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
The math is simple and unforgiving.
—Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unforgiving
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Nigel Morris, Forbes.com, 28 May 2026
This approach sets those same children up for failure in an increasingly unforgiving economy.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 27 May 2026
His distinctly space-age aesthetic, born of necessity in one of the world’s most unforgiving environments, is now arguably the continent’s prevailing architectural style.
—Oscar Holland, CNN Money, 25 May 2026
The math is simple and unforgiving.
—Jared Bernstein, The Atlantic, 25 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for unforgiving
Cite this Entry
“Unforgiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unforgiving. Accessed 29 May. 2026.
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