heartless

comparative more heartless · superlative most heartless

1. Without feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring; cruel.First known use 16th c.

   His heartless actions and cold manner left her saddened and feeling alone.

   3 more examples

   The world is a dangerous, violent place […] and the only true refuge from this heartless world is the family.

   1982 August 14, Michael Bronski, “If You Hated The Book You'll Loathe The Movie”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 5, page 11

   It's safer to be heartless than mindless. The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless.

   1986 January 23, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “The Smoke Screen”, in Yes, Prime Minister, season 1, episode 3, spoken by Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne)

   Mr. Burns is similarly perfectly cast as a heartless capitalist willing to do anything for a quick buck, even if it means endangering the lives of those around him and Marge elegantly rounds out the main cast as a good, pure-hearted and overly indulgent woman who sees the big, good heart (literally and metaphorically) of a monstrous man-brute.

   2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 15 Aug 2012

   Synonyms: cold-hearted, uncordial, brutal, callous, cold, insensate, hardhanded, cold-eyed · Antonyms: hearty, heartful, cordial

2. Without a physical heart.First known use 15th c.

   Synonyms: acardiac

3. archaicListless, unenthusiastic.First known use 14th c.

   Near-synonyms: spiritless, unhearty

   Synonyms: spiritless, unhearty · Antonyms: hearty, heartful, adiaphroistic, apathetic, apathistical, blasé, blithe, deaf

4. obsoleteWithout courage; fearful, cowardly.First known use 10th–19th c.

   Cecilia then, though almost heartless, resolved upon talking with Mr. Harrel himself […].

   1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, II.iii.7

   Synonyms: spineless, gutless, unhearty, backboneless, base, soft, bitch-ass, boneless · Antonyms: dauntless