have mercy
Grant compassionate reprieve
Have mercy is an exclamation expressing surprise, exasperation, or disbelief—often with a Southern flavor: Have mercy, it's hot out here.
It can be a genuine plea for compassion Have mercy on us or an expression of being overwhelmed by something impressive: Have mercy, that woman can sing.
The phrase softens what might otherwise be stronger language.
Ask with desperation
- imploreUrge with desperation
- entreatPlead urgently with someone
- beseechPlead urgently with someone
- appealFormal review request
supplicate · plead · grovel · petition · pray · invoke · crave · importune
Official release from punishment
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
commutation · exoneration · acquittal · grace · forbearance · quarter · remission · spare
Official release from punishment
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
grace · second chance · remorse · repentance · contrition · relent · spare · vindication
Sympathy for misfortune
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
- charityVoluntary aid for others
tenderness · gentleness · warmth · care · concern · heart · humanity · understanding
beg
Ask with desperation
appeal · supplicate · plead · grovel · petition · pray · invoke · crave · importune · adjure
pardon
Official release from punishment
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- leniencyMildness in punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
absolution · commutation · exoneration · acquittal · grace · forbearance · quarter · remission · spare · release
pardon
Official release from punishment
- redemptionRecovery or moral restoration
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
- atonementCompensation for wrongdoing
absolution · grace · second chance · remorse · repentance · contrition · relent · spare · vindication · condonation
pity
Sympathy for misfortune
- kindnessConsiderate, caring disposition
- sympathyCompassionate understanding of others
- benevolenceDisposition toward doing good
charity · tenderness · gentleness · warmth · care · concern · heart · humanity · understanding · generosity
- have a heartplease, pity, take pity, spare me, I beg you
- surrendersurrender, surrenders, surrendering, I surrender, capitulate
- pleasplea, pleas, please, prayers, entreaty
- Sacred Phrasesamen, hallelujah, alleluia, praise God, glory be
- Penitential Prayersprayer of confession, penitential psalms, contrition, forgive me
- admissionsapplication, acceptance letter, admissions, application deadline, admissions committee
have mercytake revenge
Return harm for harm
retaliate · avenge · throw the book at · condemn · get even