hardhearted

H4A1R1D2H4E1A1R1T1E1D2

adjective

Lacking in compassion; cold and pitiless.

Similar
flint-heartediron-heartedstoneheartedbrutalcallouscoldinsensatehardhanded
Opposite
softhearted
Scrabble 19
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Meanings

adjectivehardhearted (comparative more hardhearted or harderhearted, superlative most hardhearted or hardesthearted)

comparative more hardhearted · comparative harderhearted · superlative most hardhearted · superlative hardesthearted · alternative hard-hearted

  1. Lacking in compassion; cold and pitiless.

    Some hardhearted souls may even question whether small acts of kindness really matter. Spoiler alert: They do!

    2025 November 13, Kamala Thiagarajan, “If you're going to be kind to another human, today is the day to do it!”, in NPR

    Synonyms: flint-hearted, iron-hearted, stonehearted, brutal, callous, cold, insensate, hardhanded · Antonyms: softhearted

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectiveLacking in compassion; cold and pitiless.

Similar
flint-heartediron-heartedstoneheartedbrutalcallouscoldinsensatehardhandedcold-eyedcrueldourthick-skinnedflint-heartedforbiddingfrostygrimhardhard-boiledhardened
Opposite
softhearted

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivelacking in feeling or pity or warmth

Similar
heartlessflintyflintgranitic
Opposite
softhearted

adjectivedevoid of feeling for others

Similar
stonyheartedunfeelinguncompassionate
Also see
brutalcallouscold-eyedcruelflintflint-heartedflintygranitichard-boiledhardenedharshheartlessicyinsensateiron-heartedmarble-heartedobduratepitilessrockheartedsternstoneheartedstonystonyheartedtoughuncompassionateunfeelingunmovedunsympathetic

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

From hard + hearted.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Ancient Greek σκληροκάρδιος
  • σκληροκάρδιος (sklērokárdios)lacking in compassion
Arabic قَاسِي الْقَلْب, غَلِيظ الْقَلْب
  • قَاسِي الْقَلْب (qāsī l-qalb)lacking in compassion
  • غَلِيظ الْقَلْب (ḡalīẓ al-qalb)lacking in compassion
Finnish kovasydäminen
  • kovasydäminenlacking in compassion
Greek σκληρόκαρδος
  • σκληρόκαρδος (sklirókardos)lacking in compassion
Hindi पत्थरदिल
  • पत्थरदिल (patthardil)lacking in compassion
Hungarian keményszívű, kőszívű
  • keményszívűlacking in compassion
  • kőszívűlacking in compassion
  • szívtelenlacking in compassion
Irish cruachroíoch, fuarchroíoch
  • cruachroíochlacking in compassion
  • fuarchroíochlacking in compassion
  • fuarchúiseachlacking in compassion
Persian سنگدل, سختدل
  • سنگدل (sangdel)lacking in compassion
  • سختدل (saxtdel)lacking in compassion
Romanian insensibil, nemilos
  • insensibillacking in compassion
  • nemiloslacking in compassion
  • asprulacking in compassion
Swedish hårdhjärtad
  • hårdhjärtadlacking in compassion
Tagalog pusong-bato, pusong-bakal
  • pusong-batolacking in compassion
  • pusong-bakallacking in compassion
  • matigas ang pusolacking in compassion
Turkish katı yürekli
  • katı yüreklilacking in compassion
Cite this entry
APA

hardhearted. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hardhearted

MLA

“hardhearted.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hardhearted. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “hardhearted,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/hardhearted.

Source: hardhearted on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.