MERCILESSNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does mercilessness mean? 

• MERCILESSNESS (noun)
  The noun MERCILESSNESS has 2 senses:

1. feelings of extreme heartlessness

2. inhumaneness evidenced by an unwillingness to be kind or forgiving

  Familiarity information: MERCILESSNESS used as a noun is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• MERCILESSNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Feelings of extreme heartlessness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

cruelty; mercilessness; pitilessness; ruthlessness

Hypernyms ("mercilessness" is a kind of...):

coldheartedness; hardheartedness; heartlessness (an absence of concern for the welfare of others)

Derivation:

merciless (having or showing no mercy)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Inhumaneness evidenced by an unwillingness to be kind or forgiving

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

mercilessness; unmercifulness

Hypernyms ("mercilessness" is a kind of...):

inhumaneness; inhumanity (the quality of lacking compassion or consideration for others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "mercilessness"):

pitilessness; ruthlessness (mercilessness characterized by a lack of pity)

inexorability; inexorableness; relentlessness (mercilessness characterized by an unwillingness to relent or let up)

Antonym:

mercifulness (a disposition to be kind and forgiving)

Derivation:

merciless (having or showing no mercy)