take-no-prisoners
Showing no mercy
Take-no-prisoners describes an aggressive, uncompromising approach that shows no mercy to opponents.
The military phrase—literally refusing to capture enemy soldiers alive—now applies to ruthless competition, negotiation, or ambition: a take-no-prisoners attitude toward business rivals, her take-no-prisoners style of debate.
The hyphenated form typically precedes nouns as a modifier.
Showing no clemency
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- pitilessLacking any compassion
- heartlessLacking pity or mercy
cold-blooded · savage · vicious · cruel · unforgiving · remorseless · callous · ferocious
Violently intense or aggressive
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- attackingActively engaging offensively
- offensiveCausing displeasure or attack-oriented
hard-charging · in-your-face · pugnacious · belligerent · militant · warlike · scrappy · bare-knuckle
Impossible to halt
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- tirelessNever losing energy
- inexorableImpossible to prevent
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
dogged · tenacious · indomitable · persevering · unflagging · unwavering · steamroller · juggernaut
Stubbornly inflexible in stance
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
- adamantStubbornly refusing to yield
implacable · intransigent · rigid · strict · stern · zero-tolerance · black-and-white · all-or-nothing
Exerting strong authority
- authoritativeHaving recognized expertise
- powerfulHaving great strength
- forcefulExerting strong pressure
- imposingImpressively grand in scale
masterful · alpha · supreme · controlling · formidable · intimidating · overpowering · crushing
merciless
Showing no clemency
- cutthroatViciously competitive or murderous
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- pitilessLacking any compassion
heartless · cold-blooded · savage · vicious · cruel · unforgiving · remorseless · callous · ferocious · harsh
fierce
Violently intense or aggressive
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
- attackingActively engaging offensively
offensive · hard-charging · in-your-face · pugnacious · belligerent · militant · warlike · scrappy · bare-knuckle · gladiatorial
unstoppable
Impossible to halt
- unrelentingRefusing to let up
- tirelessNever losing energy
- inexorableImpossible to prevent
persistent · dogged · tenacious · indomitable · persevering · unflagging · unwavering · steamroller · juggernaut · bulldozing
hardline
Stubbornly inflexible in stance
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
- inflexibleUnable to bend
- unbendingRefusing to change position
adamant · implacable · intransigent · rigid · strict · stern · zero-tolerance · black-and-white · all-or-nothing · absolutist
commanding
Exerting strong authority
- authoritativeHaving recognized expertise
- powerfulHaving great strength
- forcefulExerting strong pressure
imposing · masterful · alpha · supreme · controlling · formidable · intimidating · overpowering · crushing · iron-fisted
take-no-prisonersgentle
Soft and kind
soft · mild-mannered · easygoing · laid-back · kid-gloves
take-no-prisonersmerciful
Disposed toward forgiveness
compassionate · lenient · forgiving · charitable · magnanimous
take, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, takeover, intake, uptake