adj

merciless

MUR-sih-luhs

adj

Showing no mercy at all; cruel and unforgiving.

"The critics were merciless in their review of the film."

"The desert sun was merciless by midday."

How to Use Merciless

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCompletely without pity or forgiveness.

Common pairings

merciless heat merciless critic a merciless attack

more merciless comparative, most merciless superlative

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The critics were _____ in their review of the film.

From Middle English merciles, formed from mercy plus -less, meaning literally "without mercy."

pitiless penniless