as in patient
showing kindness and forgiveness instead of harshness or cruelty especially to someone under one's authority or control
When our English teacher caught us cheating, we prayed he would be merciful in deciding our punishment.
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of merciful
And the Bills routed the Jets, 40-14, to inch New York one game closer to a merciful end for a miserable season.
—
Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Eventually, the company will miss an earnings target or announce an earnings warning, and, as recent history has shown, the market will not be merciful in its reaction.
—Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Federer breaks the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
2008 — Michigan’s 42-7 drubbing by Ohio State put a merciful end to the worst season in Michigan’s 129 years of intercollegiate football.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Discrete levels are filled with an array of obstacles and enemies, some of which culminate in gigantic bosses whose easygoing challenge offers a merciful break from the likes of Elden Ring.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for merciful 
Zak Keefer, The Athletic, 30 Dec. 2024
Eventually, the company will miss an earnings target or announce an earnings warning, and, as recent history has shown, the market will not be merciful in its reaction.
—Charles Rotblut, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Federer breaks the record of 12 straight finals victories shared by Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe.
2008 — Michigan’s 42-7 drubbing by Ohio State put a merciful end to the worst season in Michigan’s 129 years of intercollegiate football.
—Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
Discrete levels are filled with an array of obstacles and enemies, some of which culminate in gigantic bosses whose easygoing challenge offers a merciful break from the likes of Elden Ring.
—Lewis Gordon, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for merciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciful
Adjective
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However, Shields was patient and struck at the last second when Perkins’ guard was down.—
Scott Thompson,
Fox News,
3 Feb. 2025
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The analyst added that Constellation could be one of the more patient players in the sector by not jumping to raise prices immediately.—
Brian Evans,
CNBC,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But what seems like a benevolent act smells a lot like a transparent bribe to purchase more U.S. defense investment.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
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Belarusian news media have been spinning the pardons, which have been officially announced, though mostly without naming inmates or providing details, as a benevolent act by Mr. Lukashenko.—
Nataliya Vasilyeva,
New York Times,
24 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Now, to me the phrase means that girls just wanna be real… and vulnerable… and inclusive… and compassionate and on and on.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
23 Jan. 2025
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The Grauer School’s mission is to provide a humanitarian education that helps develop compassionate citizens with the ethical and social leadership qualities necessary to make positive changes in the diverse local, national and global communities.—
News Release,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
18 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The incident, shared in a post on Reddit this week, has left thousands of users amused—and some deeply sympathetic.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
30 Jan. 2025
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Nor is Maud, whose emotions can be erratic, a particularly sympathetic character.—
Victoria Uren,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Samia is quick to accept the break-up, even gracious.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Jan. 2025
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But this gracious view has been taken to the extreme by some Americans who view Russia as a benign actor that is either incapable, uninterested or unwilling to harm the American people.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Check out our full guide on how to be kinder to yourself.—
Erica Sloan,
SELF,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Threats to respond in kind Representatives for the Mexican and Canadian governments were not immediately available for comment when contacted by CNBC, although both nations have previously pledged to respond to tariffs with measures of their own.—
Chloe Taylor,
CNBC,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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The cast includes Stephen Merchant as the voice of the mouse, Kristen Wiig as a scenery-chewing evil aunt, and Jim Broadbent as a kindly but clueless king.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
20 Dec. 2024
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In his fourth feature, director Hsiao Ya-Chuan follows the unsentimental education of a motherless 11-year-old boy, Liao Jie (Bai Run-yin), raised in poverty by his kindly father, Liao Tai-lai (Liu Kuan-Ting), a waiter at a busy banqueting hall.—
Alissa Simon,
Variety,
25 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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With the belief that skincare should be gentle, effective, and safe for everyone, every product is crafted with care, using natural and organic ingredients that are sustainably sourced.—
Hilary Tetenbaum,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
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Made of smooth vegan satin, the pillowcase is designed to be gentle on hair and skin.—
Isabel Garcia,
People.com,
29 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near merciful
Cite this Entry
“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciful. Accessed 8 Feb. 2025.
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