ruthless

[rooth-lis] / ˈruθ lɪs /

ADJECTIVE

mean, heartless

Synonyms

STRONGEST

barbarous brutal callous cold-blooded cruel cutthroat ferocious fierce harsh inhuman malevolent merciless rancorous relentless sadistic savage unforgiving unrelenting unyielding vicious vindictive

WEAK

adamant cold dog-eat-dog feral grim hard hard-hearted implacable inexorable ironfisted killer mortal obdurate pitiless remorseless revengeful severe stern stony surly unappeasable unfeeling unmerciful unsympathetic without pity

Antonyms

STRONGEST

calm civilized compassionate easy feeling flexible forgiving friendly gentle humane kind merciful mild nice nonviolent peaceful polite sympathetic tame tender

WEAK

considerate giving

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.

Ms. Vanderkam’s positive perspective is appealing, but there’s a ruthless regimentation in the details.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026

“There is something ruthless and utterly devoid of sanity at the heart of this film industry, and I’ve never felt that darkness as clear as in ‘Mulholland Drive,’” she says.

From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026

Rockefeller succeeded through vision, hard work, and ruthless tactics—and in the end, his creation was broken up by regulators.

From Barron's • May 2, 2026

Some say his sister was more capable, and he was criticised for not being ruthless enough.

From BBC • Apr. 29, 2026

I don’t win these fights: Stephen is bigger and more ruthless than I am, and I want to play with him more than he wants to play with me.

From "Cat's Eye" by Margaret Atwood

Vocabulary lists containing ruthless

Anti-Antonyms: Words Without Opposites

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The Things They Carried

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