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.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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.
Recent Examples of merciful
The miserable 2024-25 New York Giants season came to a merciful end with a 20-13 loss to the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
—
Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
That, however, was the merciful end to the Flyers’ comeback bid as the B’s somehow survived the onslaught for the win.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for merciful 
Charlotte Carroll, The Athletic, 5 Jan. 2025
That, however, was the merciful end to the Flyers’ comeback bid as the B’s somehow survived the onslaught for the win.
—Steve Conroy, Boston Herald, 16 Mar. 2024
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
See all Example Sentences for merciful
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciful
Adjective
-
Be patient and remember snowplows are working to improve road conditions for your trip.—
Contributed Content,
Twin Cities,
8 Feb. 2025
-
Arne Slot had clearly told Liverpool to be patient and not get drawn into the ferocious scrap Everton wanted.—
Michael Cox,
The Athletic,
13 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Centuries ago, the seemingly benevolent alien race Oankali intervened in humanity's fateful hours, saving the remaining survivors and putting them in a deep sleep aboard their spaceship.—
Clare Mulroy,
USA TODAY,
14 Feb. 2025
-
The June Foray Award for significant and benevolent impact was given to the non-profit organization Women in Animation for its work advocating for gender equality and inclusion in the industry.—
Terry Flores,
Variety,
9 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Some forward-looking, compassionate airlines already quietly do this for passengers on a case-by-case basis.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA TODAY,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Finally, end your message on a compassionate note—wish them well as genuinely as possible.—
Julia Ries,
SELF,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
During the trial, the judge, Christopher Hehir, was not very sympathetic.—
Anna Russell,
The New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2025
-
Political observers widely credited Cambridge Analytica’s data work on behalf of the Trump campaign for the historic victory, but the firm’s work for the NSSF to reach gun owners and others sympathetic to the Second Amendment wasn’t publicly known.—
Corey G. Johnson,
ProPublica,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
My colleagues were more than gracious enough to take some time out of their day to taste-test copious amounts of chocolate.—
Tori Latham,
Robb Report,
8 Feb. 2025
-
The Queen was impeccably gracious in her victory, playing down the historic moment.—
Rob Sheffield,
Rolling Stone,
3 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
One person, however, who definitely didn’t have kind things to say online after the incident was President Donald Trump, who also attended the game Sunday.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
10 Feb. 2025
-
After Sister Mary Thomas spoke, each sister admitted to personal failures, apologized for slights, and thanked others for kind gestures—demonstrating the humility required for communal living.—
Lawrence Wright,
The New Yorker,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
Druid Ridge Cemetery is known for its parklike setting that includes a duck pond, woods and gentle hills.—
Baltimore Sun staff,
Baltimore Sun,
11 Feb. 2025
-
Meanwhile, this one is gentle and nourishing on the delicate skin and maintains skin elasticity and barrier protection.—
Essence,
Essence,
11 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near merciful
Cite this Entry
“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciful. Accessed 22 Feb. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share