merciful
Inclined to forgive
Merciful describes someone who shows mercy—compassion or restraint toward those they could punish or harm.
A merciful judge gives a lighter sentence; a merciful God forgives sins.
The word implies power held back: The victor was merciful to the defeated.
By extension, merciful can describe welcome relief from suffering: Death came as a merciful release.
Naturally sympathetic and caring
- tender-heartedEasily moved to sympathy
- soft-heartedReadily feeling sympathy
- warmheartedAffectionate and sympathetic
- benevolentDesiring others' welfare
humane · pitying · forgiving · gentle · loving · caring · sympathetic · understanding
Accepting of differences
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- indulgentToo willing to yield
- forgivingInclined to pardon offenses
- flexibleAble to bend freely
easygoing · patient · accommodating · understanding · nonjudgmental · liberal · mild · soft
Official release from punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
- forgivenessReleasing resentment toward offenders
commutation · exoneration · leniency · acquittal · grace · remission · discharge · release
Soft or sore
- softYielding to touch
- mildModerate in intensity
- soothingReducing distress or discomfort
- delicateEasily broken or harmed
light · painless · quick · swift · humane · easy · peaceful · calm
Dedicated to the divine
- blessedReceiving divine favor
- godlyDeeply religious in character
- saintlyMorally pure, devout
- angelicDivinely pure and good
gracious · providential · redemptive · divine grace · devout · righteous · heavenly · sacred
kindhearted
Naturally sympathetic and caring
- tender-heartedEasily moved to sympathy
- soft-heartedReadily feeling sympathy
- warmheartedAffectionate and sympathetic
benevolent · humane · pitying · forgiving · gentle · loving · caring · sympathetic · understanding · considerate
tolerant
Accepting of differences
- permissiveTolerant, lacking strictness
- indulgentToo willing to yield
- forgivingInclined to pardon offenses
flexible · easygoing · patient · accommodating · understanding · nonjudgmental · liberal · mild · soft · sparing
pardon
Official release from punishment
- amnestyGroup pardon from authorities
- reprievePostponement of punishment
- absolutionFormal clearing of guilt
forgiveness · commutation · exoneration · leniency · acquittal · grace · remission · discharge · release · respite
tender
Soft or sore
delicate · light · painless · quick · swift · humane · easy · peaceful · calm · quiet
holy
Dedicated to the divine
angelic · gracious · providential · redemptive · divine grace · devout · righteous · heavenly · sacred · pious
- moral judgmentsgood, evil, wicked, virtuous, moral
- virtuousvirtuous, righteous, moral, upright, pure
- Jesus' teachingsSermon on the Mount, beatitudes, Beatitudes, love your enemies, Lord's Prayer
- religious stancesdevout, pious, faithful, atheist, agnostic
- divine attributesomnipotence, omnipresence, omniscience, eternal, infinite
mercifulmerciless
Showing no clemency
pitiless · unmerciful · cruel · ruthless · remorseless
mercifulvengeful
Wanting to harm back
vindictive · unforgiving · retributive · revengeful · spiteful
mercifulhard-hearted
Lacking sympathy or mercy
cold-hearted · callous · unpitying · heartless · inhumane