US /ˈmɝsɪfəl/ UK /ˈməːsɪfʊl/
adj

Meanings

  1. 1
    adj

    showing compassion or forgiveness toward those in one's power

    The judge was merciful and reduced the harsh sentence.

Thesaurus

Synonyms
Word family
Forms mercifullyunmercifully
Derived forms mercifullymercifulness
Related forms mercymerciless

Etymology

From mercy (from Old French merci 'pity, thanks', from Latin mercēs 'reward, wages', in Church Latin 'pity, favor') + -ful.

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