English Explanatory Dictionary

merciful

English dictionary entry

Meanings

adj
  1. Showing mercy.

Pronunciation

/ˈmɜːsɪfl̩/ /ˈmɝsɪfl̩/ en-us-merciful.ogg

Word forms

merciful more merciful most merciful

Etymology

From Middle English merciful, mercyful, equivalent to mercy + -ful. Displaced native Old English mildheort.

Synonyms

pitiful relentful ruthful clement lenient merciable mercied merciful safe

Antonyms

cruel inclement merciless relentless unclement unlenient unmercied unmerciful barbarous bowelless brutal compassionless demonic despiteful diabolic diabolical fell incessive inhuman inhumane malicious nasty nonhumane pitiless remorseless rotten ruthless sadistic savage spiteful truculent unbenevolent unbenign unkind unpitiful unpitying

Related words

compassionate empathetic forbearing pitying sympathetic tolerant

Derived words

merciful heavens mercifully mercifulness overmerciful unmerciful
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