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.

Some reported that he made a pilgrimage to Islam's holiest site in Mecca and adopted the name Abdul Rahman - Arabic for "servant of the merciful Lord" - although evidence is unclear, Gilham added.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

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

More immediately, the lighthouse is now accessible only by an expensive helicopter ride, if the winds are merciful and it is not shrouded by fog.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 26, 2025

But it takes even more courage to be merciful to people who do not deserve it.

From Salon • Dec. 18, 2024

Now we call it Shiva, Krishna, Shakti, Ganesha; we can approach it with some understanding; we can discern certain attributes—loving, merciful, frightening—and we feel the gende pull of relationship.

From "Life of Pi" by Yann Martel

Vocabulary lists containing merciful

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

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