Synonyms of merciless

merciless

adjective

ˈmər-si-ləs 

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings

she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind

Synonyms & Similar Words

• ruthless
• pitiless
• stony
• brutal
• hard
• oppressive
• harsh
• unmerciful
• cruel
• abusive
• remorseless
• heartless
• callous
• vicious
• inhuman
• malicious
• hateful
• compassionless
• unsparing
• tough
• stern
• inhumane
• soulless
• unfeeling
• obdurate
• take-no-prisoners
• insensitive
• hard-hearted
• unsympathetic
• uncharitable
• grim
• cold-blooded
• insensate
• thick-skinned
• slash-and-burn
• severe
• savage
• indurate
• affectless
• case-hardened
• stoney
• pachydermatous
• desensitized
• hard-boiled
• thoughtless
• uncaring
• ironhearted
• rough
• heedless
• mean
• unthinking
• stonyhearted
• ungentle
• unfriendly
• boorish
• inconsiderate
• spiteful
• malevolent
• unloving
• virulent
• cold
• disagreeable
• rough-and-tumble
• heavy-handed
• brutish
• barbarous
• surly
• ironfisted
• acrimonious
• bestial
• jackbooted
• ill-tempered
• sledgehammer
• rancorous
• ill-natured
• ironhanded
• hard-bitten
• evil-minded
• austere
• knock-down-and-drag-out
• frosty
• knock-down, drag-out

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• sympathetic
• warm
• sensitive
• merciful
• gentle
• humane
• compassionate
• charitable
• benevolent
• kind
• kindly
• mild
• tender
• lenient
• friendly
• kindhearted
• indulgent
• gracious
• softhearted
• warmhearted
• tenderhearted
• cordial
• benignant
• loving
• tolerant
• affectionate
• good-natured
• understanding
• clement
• fond
• good-tempered

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of merciless

Photo: No Ju-han/Netflix Season two picks up exactly where the first left off, as Gi-hun devises a plan: track down the organizers of the game and end that merciless contest once and for all. —Radhika Seth, Vogue, 26 Dec. 2024

But in the face of an increasingly merciless healthcare system, the battered team must put aside their differences and pull together to save lives. —Lynette Rice, Deadline, 4 Dec. 2024

The woman doubts what is happening to her, doubts her surroundings, doubts her recent experiences, but the boy urges her on, merciless. —Mikaella Clements & Onjuli Datta, Vulture, 1 Nov. 2024

But the ruthless cleaning up of those streets and merciless treatment of gang members have triggered outrage and concern among human rights organizations, which have condemned Cecot as inhumane and unacceptable. —David Culver, CNN, 6 Nov. 2024