1
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
she went into an unmerciful level of detail about her latest health problems
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
the critics were unmerciful in their assessments of the young actress's performance
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Recent Examples of unmerciful
His take on Prince Philip is both humanizing and unmerciful, cutting to the bone of a man portrayed in contradictory terms — petulant yet statesmanlike, intensely ambitious yet ineffectual, relatable one minute and contemptible the next.
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Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2024
The temperature climbed as more gas pushed and compressed itself into the small space, and the heat became unmerciful, exacerbated by the syrupy sensation of the increasingly dense atmosphere.
—Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
In Nazi ideology, descent was destiny—inescapable, unmerciful, and total.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
What hit viewers, then and now, with the strength of an unmerciful iceberg is how entirely uncynical this movie is.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2022
How have Willis and Kastor excelled for 20 years and more in that unmerciful context?
—Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2021
Trying to end an unmerciful beating, Astudillo haplessly threw three pitches to Mercedes that were all called balls (and that averaged about 45 mph).
—Scott Jennings, CNN, 20 May 2021
Reaction to the couple's decision was swift and unmerciful.
—Danielle Campoamor, refinery29.com, 7 May 2021
In his portrayals of inmates, victims, and legal advocates, a cautious theme emerges: the prospect of a democratic solution—born of popular will—to an unmerciful system of justice.
—The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2021
Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2024
The temperature climbed as more gas pushed and compressed itself into the small space, and the heat became unmerciful, exacerbated by the syrupy sensation of the increasingly dense atmosphere.
—Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
In Nazi ideology, descent was destiny—inescapable, unmerciful, and total.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
What hit viewers, then and now, with the strength of an unmerciful iceberg is how entirely uncynical this movie is.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2022
How have Willis and Kastor excelled for 20 years and more in that unmerciful context?
—Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2021
Trying to end an unmerciful beating, Astudillo haplessly threw three pitches to Mercedes that were all called balls (and that averaged about 45 mph).
—Scott Jennings, CNN, 20 May 2021
Reaction to the couple's decision was swift and unmerciful.
—Danielle Campoamor, refinery29.com, 7 May 2021
In his portrayals of inmates, victims, and legal advocates, a cautious theme emerges: the prospect of a democratic solution—born of popular will—to an unmerciful system of justice.
—The New Yorker, 15 Mar. 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unmerciful
Adjective
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However, being unable to control excessive behaviors can cause people to stretch beyond their means and compromise their well-being and personal sustainability.Sandro da Silva, Forbes, 17 Dec. 2024
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Yes, fame is a form of oppression, a currency, a potential gift and punishment for excessive attention-seeking, which is often a need for real love, which fame isn’t.Harmony Holiday, Los Angeles Times, 16 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Their life is interrupted by the arrival of a group of pale, ghostly white lions, an outsider tribe of scavengers led by the ruthless Kiros (Mads Mikkelsen), looking to occupy and control this land.Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 19 Dec. 2024
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Storks Are Fascinating Beyond Their Brood Reducing Ways Despite their ruthless parenting, storks are fascinating creatures with other interesting traits.Scott Travers, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Baseball is an extreme example, where it is accepted and understood that starting pitchers must rest for a week after starting to protect their arm.Jacob Whitehead, The Athletic, 25 Dec. 2024
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Jim Clash covers extreme adventure and classic rock.Jim Clash, Forbes, 25 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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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
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Season 2 doesn’t top the shocking novelty of the first season, made iconic by that giant mechanical girl in charge of a merciless game of red light, green light.Tom Gliatto, People.com, 26 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Your voice is insane.Mary Colurso | mcolurso@al.com, al, 4 Apr. 2023
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But obviously winning the grand jury prize was insane.Taylor Antrim, Vogue, 31 Mar. 2023
Adjective
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Hike along the Beagle Channel on the Senda Costera, or push yourself on the steep Cerro Guanaco Trail for awe-inspiring views of mountains plunging into icy waters.Alexandra Gillespie, Outside Online, 16 Dec. 2024
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Rugged terrain continues to pose a challenge for fire crews trying to access steep mountainous areas.Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Social media footage also has shown Syrians touring the Assads’ opulent estates, revealing extravagant decor and possessions out of reach for many who lived through the country’s civil war since 2011.Sally Abou Aljoud, Los Angeles Times, 15 Dec. 2024
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Every year, the Kardashian-Jenners host an extravagant Christmas Eve bash equipped with over-the-top decorations and activities at one of their sprawling Southern California mansions.Natalia Senanayake, People.com, 14 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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There are an infinite number of ways to build that kindness.Blair Braverman, Outside Online, 23 Dec. 2024
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As Sinek describes an infinite game, the players come and go, the rules are changeable and there’s no defined end point.Liz Guthridge, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near unmerciful
Cite this Entry
“Unmerciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unmerciful. Accessed 31 Dec. 2024.
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