English Synonym Finder

merciful

Definitions

Showing or exercising compassion or forgiveness.

Serving to alleviate suffering or distress.

Examples

The judge was merciful and gave the first-time offender a lighter sentence.

She prayed for a merciful end to her pet's long and painful illness.

Even in the heat of battle, the knight remained merciful toward his defeated foes.

Synonyms

compassionate forgiving lenient kind benevolent clement humane

Antonyms

cruel merciless ruthless pitiless harsh severe unforgiving