unforgiving

adjective

un·​for·​giv·​ing ˌən-fər-ˈgi-viŋ How to pronounce unforgiving (audio)
1
: unwilling or unable to forgive
2
: having or making no allowance for error or weakness
an unforgiving environment where false moves can prove fatalJaclyn Fierman
unforgivingness noun

Examples of unforgiving in a Sentence

They are unforgiving of the smallest mistake. the unforgiving world of politics
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Viewers will witness history as the first-ever double amputee survivor, Mandy Horvath, takes on the brutal wilderness of Belize's dense and unforgiving jungles — a challenge that goes beyond the wild, serving as a testament to sheer willpower, determination and resilience. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 8 Mar. 2025 Track position is everything on a circuit as unforgiving as Monaco, where overtaking opportunities are scarce. Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 My Aoyama has survived multiple safaris, the TSA conveyor belt, and even the unforgiving grasp of a two-year-old who borrowed it for playtime and threw it down on the pavement. Talia Ergas, Travel + Leisure, 22 Feb. 2025 Twisting through the heart of the city, Monaco’s circuit is a test of precision, where drivers push their cars, just kissing the unforgiving barriers with millimeter-perfect accuracy. Kanzah Maktoum, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for unforgiving

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of unforgiving was in 1713

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Cite this Entry

“Unforgiving.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unforgiving. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

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