pitiless

American  

[pit-i-lis, pit-ee-] / ˈpɪt ɪ lɪs, ˈpɪt i- /

adjective

1. feeling or showing no pity; merciless.

   pitiless criticism of his last novel.

   Synonyms:

   implacable, unmerciful, relentless

   Antonyms:

   merciful

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pitiless British  

/ ˈpɪtɪlɪs /

adjective

1. having or showing little or no pity or mercy

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Related Words

See cruel.

Other Word Forms

• pitilessly adverb
• pitilessness noun

Etymology

Origin of pitiless

First recorded in 1375–1425, pitiless is from the late Middle English word piteles. See pity, -less

Explanation

Pitiless means "without mercy" or "cruel." Movie critics are often described as pitiless, because if they hate a film, they don't hold back or consider the feelings of the people who poured their hearts into making it. The root word of the adjective pitiless is pity. If someone lacks all sympathy or tenderness, you can describe them as pitiless. People who are annoyed that they have to step out of the way of homeless people who huddle against buildings in winter are probably pitiless — they just don't care about the plights of others. How can you tell if your friends are pitiless? They seem bored or annoyed when you are upset about something.

Example Sentences

“Amongst Women” revolves around Michael Moran, a widowed farmer who rules his family with pitiless vigor.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

Our reviewer called the book “beautiful and brilliant, heartbreaking and wise, but also pitiless, which may be controversial to list among its virtues but is in fact essential to its success.”

From New York Times • May 8, 2023

Deceiving ourselves that way is foolish; using that lie to string along our loved ones is pitiless.

From Salon • Apr. 10, 2023

Michael James Vijencio Gubitosi was born in Nutley, N.J., on Sept. 18, 1933, and described his childhood as a pitiless struggle.

From Washington Post • Mar. 10, 2023

Under the pitiless double assaults of her mother and grandmother, the cottage where she lived was always squeaking clean, mopped and swept and scoured into limp submission.

From "Tuck Everlasting" by Natalie Babbit