as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of merciless
All the while, the president, his top advisers, and his public-affairs offices have pumped out rhetoric and imagery that celebrates the merciless, military-style pursuit of deportations.
—
Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
The Knicks faithful can be merciless like that sometimes.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
With no escape, the young band members (played by Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner) are forced into a vicious fight for survival against merciless extremists, led by Patrick Stewart's sinister Darcy Banker.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Their relationship evolves from one technical competition into a soulful, brotherly alliance that serves as an act of defiance against a merciless system.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Caitlin Dickerson, The Atlantic, 9 Jan. 2026
The Knicks faithful can be merciless like that sometimes.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 3 Jan. 2026
With no escape, the young band members (played by Anton Yelchin, Alia Shawkat, Joe Cole, and Callum Turner) are forced into a vicious fight for survival against merciless extremists, led by Patrick Stewart's sinister Darcy Banker.
—Allison Degrushe, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025
Their relationship evolves from one technical competition into a soulful, brotherly alliance that serves as an act of defiance against a merciless system.
—Robert Lang, Deadline, 30 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciless
Adjective
-
For the first time, the defense attorney becomes the defendant, forced to fight for his own freedom while facing off against ruthless prosecutor Dana Berg (Constance Zimmer).—
Veronica Villafañe,
Forbes.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
And, as part of the deal, city planners aim to update development protocols to meet the challenges of a more ruthless wildfire regime.—
Mark Dee
January 27,
Idaho Statesman,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That means the flavor can range from mild and clean to stony or salty, and the intensity of the bubbles also varies from delicate to aggressive.—
Karla Walsh,
Better Homes & Gardens,
16 Jan. 2026
-
Delectable notes of lemon curd on the nose, citrus blossom, and stony minerality, with peach tart and a drizzle of honey, and a lovely balance of medium body, lots of juicy fruit and crisp acidity.—
Cathrine Todd,
Forbes.com,
16 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Merciless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciless. Accessed 4 Feb. 2026.
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