pitiless C2+ Topic:People & Society US /ˈpɪtiləs/ UK /ˈpɪtiləs/ See IPA manual Meanings 1 adj showing no pity; merciless or relentless The pitiless desert sun beat down on the stranded travelers. Thesaurus Synonyms 1 adj · showing no pity; merciless... mercilessruthlessrelentlessheartlesscruelunsparingremorselesshard-hearted ↔ Opposites mercifulcompassionatekindtenderlenient Word family Forms pitilessly Derived forms pitilesslypitilessness Related forms pitypitifulpiteouspitiable Etymology AI details From Middle English pite ('pity') + -less, the pity element ultimately from Old French pite and Latin pietas ('compassion, piety'). pite Old French pietas Latin View etymology graph -> Topics People & Society Word Formation & Derivatives External links Cambridge Dictionary Wiktionary Google Images # pitiless **Type:** Word **Level:** C2+ **Part of speech:** adj **IPA (US):** /ˈpɪtiləs/ **IPA (UK):** /ˈpɪtiləs/ ## Meanings 1. showing no pity; merciless or relentless ## Examples - The pitiless desert sun beat down on the stranded travelers. ## Synonyms - merciless - ruthless - relentless - heartless - cruel - unsparing - remorseless - hard-hearted ## Antonyms - merciful - compassionate - kind - tender - lenient ## Derived Forms - pitilessly - pitilessness ## Related Forms - pity - pitiful - piteous - pitiable ## Roots and Affixes - Root: pite - Root: pietas ## Etymology From Middle English pite ('pity') + -less, the pity element ultimately from Old French pite and Latin pietas ('compassion, piety'). ## AI Etymology Pitiless comes from Middle English pite ('pity') + -less, the pity element ultimately from Old French pite and Latin pietas ('compassion, piety'). The suffix is part of the word's derivational shape, marking the final grammatical or semantic role while the base supplies the central meaning. As an adjective, it carries the sense "showing no pity; merciless or relentless", with the older formation still helping explain the modern use. Relevant historical forms include Old French pite and Latin pietas. Derivative forms include pitilessly, pitilessness; related words include pity, pitiful, piteous, pitiable. ## Topics - People & Society - Word Formation & Derivatives markdown