adj
ruthless
ROOTH-luhs
adj
1
Showing no pity or mercy; willing to act harshly to get what one wants.
"The company was known for its ruthless approach to cutting costs."
"She was ruthless in negotiations, never giving an inch."
How to Use Ruthless
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMerciless and hard-nosed, with no regard for how it affects others.
Common pairings
ruthless efficiency
ruthless dictator
ruthlessly ambitious
Word Forms
more ruthless comparative, most ruthless superlative
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The company was known for its _____ approach to cutting costs.
Etymology
From Middle English reuþeles, literally "without ruth" — ruth being an old word for pity, plus the suffix -less.