unforgiving

adjective

un·​for·​giv·​ing ˌən-fər-ˈgi-viŋ How to pronounce unforgiving (audio)
1
: unwilling or unable to forgive
2
: having or making no allowance for error or weakness
an unforgiving environment where false moves can prove fatalJaclyn 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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Over the last year and a half, more than 700,000 people have traversed this unforgiving slice of jungle that divides Colombia from Panama. Tirana Hassan, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024 The challenges of reaching such unforgiving destinations stirred excitement in the 19th and early 20th centuries, with expeditions venturing to Antarctica and the Arctic. Ashley Strickland, CNN, 12 Oct. 2024 Regardless, the making of the monster lies not in the moment of senseless cruelty but in the selfish impulses most ardently encouraged and cultivated by an unforgiving world. Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024 The unforgiving, hard-to-game, and constantly evolving discipline of market competition, enforced by self-interested patients, protects their interests better than regulations can. Ge Bai, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for unforgiving 

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unforgiving was in 1713

Dictionary Entries Near unforgiving

Cite this Entry

“Unforgiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unforgiving. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

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