unmerciful
Showing no pity
Unmerciful means showing no mercy—harsh, cruel, or relentless.
An unmerciful beating is severe.
An unmerciful critic offers no kindness.
The word can also describe something excessive or extreme: The heat was unmerciful.
Less common than merciless, which carries similar meaning.
Lacking any compassion
- heartlessLacking pity or mercy
- ruthlessLacking any compassion
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- savageFierce and untamed
vicious · cold-blooded · sadistic · barbaric · inhumane · callous · fiendish · malevolent
Extremely harsh or strict
- sternStrict or ship's aft
- unsparingShowing no leniency
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
- punishingExtremely taxing or severe
brutal · hard · unyielding · rigorous · exacting · draconian · punitive · oppressive
Incapable of being pacified
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- vengefulWanting to harm back
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
- unappeasableCannot be mollified
intransigent · obdurate · unbending · inflexible · retributive · retaliatory · spiteful · begrudging
Refusing to let up
- inexorableImpossible to prevent
- implacableIncapable of being pacified
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
- unyieldingRefusing to give way
unstoppable · incessant · unabating · ceaseless · unremitting · dogged · unceasing · interminable
pitiless
Lacking any compassion
savage · vicious · cold-blooded · sadistic · barbaric · inhumane · callous · fiendish · malevolent · monstrous
severe
Extremely harsh or strict
- sternStrict or ship's aft
- unsparingShowing no leniency
- unforgivingShowing no leniency
punishing · brutal · hard · unyielding · rigorous · exacting · draconian · punitive · oppressive · grinding
implacable
Incapable of being pacified
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- vengefulWanting to harm back
- resentfulFeeling lingering ill will
unappeasable · intransigent · obdurate · unbending · inflexible · retributive · retaliatory · spiteful · begrudging · unrelenting
unrelenting
Refusing to let up
- inexorableImpossible to prevent
- implacableIncapable of being pacified
- persistentContinuing despite difficulty
unyielding · unstoppable · incessant · unabating · ceaseless · unremitting · dogged · unceasing · interminable · nonstop
unmercifulmerciful
Disposed toward forgiveness
compassionate · forgiving · lenient · kind · kindhearted
unmercifulmoderate
Lessen intensity or preside
temperate · restrained · reasonable · middling · measured