show mercy
Spare the condemned
To show mercy is to treat someone with compassion or leniency when you have the power to punish or harm them.
A judge shows mercy by giving a lighter sentence; a victor shows mercy by sparing the defeated.
The phrase often appears in pleas: Please, show mercy!
To show no mercy is to be ruthless or unforgiving.
- forgiveCease to blame
- pardonOfficial release from punishment
- spareHeld in reserve
- let offFreed from blame
- second chanceRenewed opportunity after failure
compassion · clemency · leniency · act of grace · pity · take pity · grace · kindness · reprieve · absolve · relent · turn the other cheek · soften · gentle · tender · benevolent · sympathize · understanding
show mercytake revenge
Return harm for harm
avenge · retaliate · condemn · throw the book at · make an example of
show mercykill
Cause death
execute · destroy · annihilate · slaughter · put to death
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