- feeling or showing no mercy; hardhearted
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
ruth•less /ˈruθlɪs/USA pronunciation
adj.
ruth•less•ness, n. [uncountable]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- without pity or compassion;
cruel;
merciless:a ruthless desire to win at all costs.
ruth•less•ness, n. [uncountable]
ruth•less
(ro̅o̅th′lis),USA pronunciation adj.
ruth′less•ly, adv.
ruth′less•ness, n.
- without pity or compassion;
cruel;
merciless:a ruthless tyrant.
- 1300–50; Middle English; see ruth, -less
ruth′less•ness, n.
- unrelenting, adamant, relentless. See cruel.
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
ruthless /ˈruːθlɪs/ adj
'ruthless' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):
atrocious
- atrocity
- Cumberland
- dog
- hawk
- inquisition
- jungle
- law of the jungle
- Procrustean
- Rottweiler
- self-aggrandizement
- Stolypin
- stop
- bitter
- bloodbath
- bloody
- cruel
- cutthroat
- dog-eat-dog
- dragon lady
- feeding frenzy
- goon squad
- grim
- hardball
- hard-fisted
- henchman
- ironfisted
- kulak
- Lidice
- meat ax
- personify
- preemptive
- Reign of Terror
- remorseless
- unrelenting
- velvet glove
- skin
- steamroller
- superman