merciless C2+ Topic:Describing People US /ˈmɝsɪləs/ UK /ˈməːsɪləs/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj showing no mercy; cruel and relentless The merciless heat drove the travelers to seek shade. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · showing no mercy; cruel and... ruthlesspitilesscruelrelentlessremorselessheartlessunsparing ↔ Opposites mercifulcompassionatelenientclement Word family Derived forms mercilesslymercilessness Related forms mercymerciful Etymology AI details From mercy (from Old French merci 'pity', from Latin mercēs 'reward, favor') + -less, the native English suffix from Old English -lēas 'free from, without'. merci xno -lēas Old English View etymology graph -> Topics Describing People Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # merciless **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈmɝsɪləs/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈməːsɪləs/ ## Meanings 1. showing no mercy; cruel and relentless ## Examples - The merciless heat drove the travelers to seek shade. ## Synonyms - ruthless - pitiless - cruel - relentless - remorseless - heartless - unsparing ## Antonyms - merciful - compassionate - lenient - clement ## Derived Forms - mercilessly - mercilessness ## Related Forms - mercy - merciful ## Roots and Affixes - Root: merci - Root: -lēas ## Etymology From mercy (from Old French merci 'pity', from Latin mercēs 'reward, favor') + -less, the native English suffix from Old English -lēas 'free from, without'. ## AI Etymology Merciless comes from mercy (from Old French merci 'pity', from Latin mercēs 'reward, favor') + -less, the native English suffix from Old English -lēas 'free from, without'. The etymological trail includes Old French merci, Old English -lēas. The same word family includes mercilessly, mercilessness, mercy, merciful. Its current adjective use means "showing no mercy; cruel and relentless". ## Topics - Describing People - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown