pitiless

adjective

piti·​less ˈpi-ti-ləs How to pronounce pitiless (audio)
: devoid of pity : harsh, cruel
pitilessly adverb
pitilessness noun

Examples of pitiless in a Sentence

The soldiers were pitiless toward their enemy. gave the beggar in the street a pitiless look and kept on walking
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.
The title, in Muslim eschatology, refers to a narrow bridge between Paradise and Hell, which is fitting, insofar as Laxe’s movie is both a nightmarish experience and an exhilarating one—a pitiless ordeal that is nonetheless underpinned by extraordinary love and tenderness. Justin Chang, New Yorker, 26 May 2025 Gilroy drew upon his lifelong study of historical revolutions to inform the show’s interweaving storylines of payroll heists and gulag escapes, street riots and false flag operations, squabbling freedom fighters and pitiless secret police. Adam B. Vary, Variety, 13 May 2025 Her loss unleashed Twain’s anger at pitiless fate, and his relationships with his two surviving daughters became increasingly estranged. Mary Ann Gwinn, Los Angeles Times, 9 May 2025 And to think, this pitiless conquistador came to North America as a humble kitchen herb, deliberately imported by European settlers for its piquant flavor. Zoë Lescaze, New York Times, 13 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for pitiless

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pitiless was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Pitiless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pitiless. Accessed 5 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

pitiless

adjective
piti·​less ˈpit-i-ləs How to pronounce pitiless (audio)
ˈpit-ᵊl-əs
: having no pity : harsh, cruel
pitilessly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on pitiless

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!