Definitions

merciful

[mur-si-fuhl] / ˈmɜr sɪ fəl /

ADJECTIVE

kind, sparing

Synonyms

STRONGEST

charitable compassionate forgiving gracious humane humanitarian kindly lenient

WEAK

all heart beneficent benign benignant bleeding heart clement condoning easygoing feeling forbearing generous gentle heart in right place indulgent liberal mild pardoning pitiful pitying soft softhearted sympathetic tender tenderhearted tolerant

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cruel hard harsh hateful inhumane mean merciless severe uncompassionate ungiving unkind unsympathetic

WEAK

unforgiving unmerciful

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Unfortunately at this point most in the audience will be hoping that the play itself will soon come to a merciful end.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 16, 2026

The end arrived in the sixth round, Joshua knocking Paul to the floor and Young waving the farce to a merciful conclusion.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 20, 2025

"There will never be the likes of him again, such a wonderful, merciful, very understanding pope and we pray for him. He died at a lovely time of the year."

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2025

The ash that fell on us for days was but a physical reminder, a merciful one at that, of the destruction just up the road from us.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 17, 2025

But Aureliano Segundo was in no mood for merciful reconciliations at that time.

From "One Hundred Years of Solitude" by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Vocabulary lists containing merciful

Power Suffix: -ful

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Positive Words to Describe a Person

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Lee's General Order No. 9: A Farewell Address

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