as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
she is a merciless competitor at board games of any kind
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Recent Examples of merciless
But too many backers of Israel can’t seem to imagine a reason besides antisemitic animus for impassioned opposition to Israel’s merciless war on the Gaza Strip.
—
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Brookner, like Taylor, is merciless in her examination of a particular sensibility.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025
In Season 4 of the Max comedy (streaming weekly on Thursdays), Deborah (Jean Smart) is struggling to find her ground amid a merciless feud with head writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder).
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 May 2025
The math of those slices off the point totals was merciless: Should a big prep draw a field of less than five, a 50-point second place was reduced to a 25-point place showing, which can mean the difference between getting a stall in the Churchill gate and not getting to race.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 1 May 2025
Brookner, like Taylor, is merciless in her examination of a particular sensibility.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 30 Apr. 2025
In Season 4 of the Max comedy (streaming weekly on Thursdays), Deborah (Jean Smart) is struggling to find her ground amid a merciless feud with head writer Ava (Hannah Einbinder).
—Erin Jensen, USA Today, 3 May 2025
The math of those slices off the point totals was merciless: Should a big prep draw a field of less than five, a 50-point second place was reduced to a 25-point place showing, which can mean the difference between getting a stall in the Churchill gate and not getting to race.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for merciless
Recent Examples of Synonyms for merciless
ruthless
Adjective
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The ruthless, physical Panthers will get a strong Oilers squad, with Ekholm back on the back end, Skinner emphatically taking back his net from Calvin Pickard, and both McDavid and Leon Draisaitl on top of their games.—
Daniel Nugent-Bowman,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
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As with everything Banksy, siting and context are chief among the avenues of investigation into the man’s intent and into his his hilariously ruthless nocturnal execution of his art.—
Guy Martin,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Merciless.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/merciless. Accessed 4 Jun. 2025.
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