1
as in excessive
going beyond a normal or acceptable limit in degree or amount
she went into an unmerciful level of detail about her latest health problems
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in ruthless
having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings
the critics were unmerciful in their assessments of the young actress's performance
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Recent Examples of unmerciful
The drought is a source of mockery towards RCB, with opposition fans unmerciful in their scorn towards them and particularly Kohli.
—
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Yet viewers admire Oz’s aptitude to survive, his unmerciful resolve.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 26 Dec. 2024
His take on Prince Philip is both humanizing and unmerciful, cutting to the bone of a man portrayed in contradictory terms — petulant yet statesmanlike, intensely ambitious yet ineffectual, relatable one minute and contemptible the next.
—Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2024
The temperature climbed as more gas pushed and compressed itself into the small space, and the heat became unmerciful, exacerbated by the syrupy sensation of the increasingly dense atmosphere.
—Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
In Nazi ideology, descent was destiny—inescapable, unmerciful, and total.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
What hit viewers, then and now, with the strength of an unmerciful iceberg is how entirely uncynical this movie is.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2022
How have Willis and Kastor excelled for 20 years and more in that unmerciful context?
—Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2021
Trying to end an unmerciful beating, Astudillo haplessly threw three pitches to Mercedes that were all called balls (and that averaged about 45 mph).
—Scott Jennings, CNN, 20 May 2021
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes, 20 Mar. 2025
Yet viewers admire Oz’s aptitude to survive, his unmerciful resolve.
—Jason Parham, WIRED, 26 Dec. 2024
His take on Prince Philip is both humanizing and unmerciful, cutting to the bone of a man portrayed in contradictory terms — petulant yet statesmanlike, intensely ambitious yet ineffectual, relatable one minute and contemptible the next.
—Will Harris, EW.com, 30 July 2024
The temperature climbed as more gas pushed and compressed itself into the small space, and the heat became unmerciful, exacerbated by the syrupy sensation of the increasingly dense atmosphere.
—Rachel Lance, WIRED, 16 Apr. 2024
In Nazi ideology, descent was destiny—inescapable, unmerciful, and total.
—Fintan O’Toole, The New York Review of Books, 20 July 2023
What hit viewers, then and now, with the strength of an unmerciful iceberg is how entirely uncynical this movie is.
—Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 15 Dec. 2022
How have Willis and Kastor excelled for 20 years and more in that unmerciful context?
—Roger Robinson, Outside Online, 18 Feb. 2021
Trying to end an unmerciful beating, Astudillo haplessly threw three pitches to Mercedes that were all called balls (and that averaged about 45 mph).
—Scott Jennings, CNN, 20 May 2021
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unmerciful
Adjective
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But for others, anxiety is an ongoing disorder that causes excessive worry, and isn't just prompted by stressful situations.—
Hannah Yasharoff,
USA Today,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Avoid constipation as excessive straining can weaken the pelvic floor.—
Violeta Valdés,
Vogue,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Russo, who has avoided serious injury and is set to return to play for Arsenal this month, is an out-and-out centre-forward, a grafter who uses her strength to take care of the ball and stitch play, but is also becoming a more ruthless penalty-box striker.—
Charlotte Harpur,
New York Times,
9 Apr. 2025
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But when the ruthless Mafia boss Nicola Grimaldi discovers his young son has been kidnapped and murdered, the suspect and Grimaldi’s former friend Vito seeks refuge with police.—
Leo Barraclough,
Variety,
9 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
And interstate commerce is affected — the extreme flooding across a corridor that includes the major cargo hubs in Louisville, Ky., and Memphis could lead to shipping and supply chain delays, said Jonathan Porter, chief meteorologist at AccuWeather.—
Bruce Schreiner and Obed Lamy,
Los Angeles Times,
6 Apr. 2025
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Two main factors are considered — burn probability and expected fire behavior under extreme conditions.—
Noah Lyons,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Lottie proposes that Natalie be stripped of her title and that the merciless and vicious Shauna should lead them instead.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
14 Mar. 2025
-
The animal is fully present, merciless and hungry.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Amanda learned in like 10 seconds, which is insane.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Mar. 2025
-
The emu egg—a two pound, eight-inch ovoid with a sultry teal shell gently speckled in pale green—seemed like just the right absurdist final flourish for an already insane endeavor.—
Helen Rosner,
The New Yorker,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
-
Rescue crews found the hikers along a steep cliff edge in the Big Flat Area, about 10 miles north of an area known as Shelter Cove, according to a news release from U.S. Coast Guard Sector Humboldt Bay.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
28 Mar. 2025
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At their steepest discount, these leggings are up to 50% off depending on color, size, and inseam measurement.—
Stephanie Osmanski,
Better Homes & Gardens,
28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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The play is an extravagant metaphor for political discourse, disputes between nations, nationalist feelings and more.—
Christopher Arnott,
Hartford Courant,
27 Feb. 2025
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Others lean into extravagant brunch dishes to nourish and impress, like Roasted Tomato Quiche or Stuffed Ham-And-Cheese Croissant Casserole.—
Abigail Wilt,
Southern Living,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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There are an infinite number of terrifying applications for this technology.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
21 Mar. 2025
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When the sun sets over the Sonoran Desert, the sky transforms into an awe-inspiring expanse of twinkling stars—an invitation to look up, dream big, and marvel at the infinite possibilities that lie beyond our world.—
Visit Tucson,
AFAR Media,
20 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Unmerciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unmerciful. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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