unmerciful

un·mer·ci·ful
U1N1M3E1R1C3I1F4U1L1
US/ʌnˈmɝsɪfl̩/UK/ʌnˈmɜːsɪfl̩/

adjective

not showing mercy

Similar
inhumanmercilesspitilessruthlessbarbarousbowellessbrutalcompassionless
Opposite
merciful
OriginMiddle English unmerciful →
RareScrabble 17
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Meanings

adjectiveunmerciful (comparative more unmerciful, superlative most unmerciful)

comparative more unmerciful · superlative most unmerciful

  1. not showing mercy

    Synonyms: inhuman, merciless, pitiless, ruthless, barbarous, bowelless, brutal, compassionless · Antonyms: merciful

Synonyms & antonyms

adjectivenot showing mercy

Similar
inhumanmercilesspitilessruthlessbarbarousbowellessbrutalcompassionlesscruelflagitiousdemonicdespitefuldiabolicdiabolicalfellincessiveinclementinhumaninhumanemalicious
Opposite
merciful

More synonyms by meaning

adjectivehaving or showing no mercy

Similar
mercilesscutthroatfiercebowellessmortalpitilessremorselessruthlesstigerish
Also see
bowellesscruelcutthroatfierceinclementmercilessmortalpitilessremorselessruthlesstigerishunpitying

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Middle Englishunmerciful
  2. Englishunmerciful

From Middle English unmerciful, unmercifull; equivalent to un- + merciful.

More words from Middle English

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

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

MLA

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

Chicago

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

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