The word "merciless" is spelled with the letters M-E-R-C-I-L-E-S-S. In IPA phonetic transcription, it is pronounced /ˈmɜːsɪlɪs/. The "mer" syllable is pronounced with the short "e" sound, while the "ci" is pronounced with the "s" sound. The final "eless" syllable is pronounced with a long "e" and a soft "s" sound. This word describes someone or something that is without mercy or compassion, and is commonly used to describe harsh or cruel behavior.
The term "merciless" is an adjective that describes someone or something lacking compassion, pity, or mercy towards others. It is derived from the word "mercy," which refers to the compassionate treatment of those who are vulnerable or facing hardships. However, being "merciless" involves the complete absence of such benevolence.
When applied to people, the term refers to those who exhibit an extreme level of cruelty, harshness, or indifference to the suffering or plight of others. Merciless individuals are often driven by their own interests, objectives, or personal gratification, disregarding any sense of empathy or sympathy for the pain they may cause. They demonstrate a lack of compassion, refusing to offer any reprieve or leniency, even in situations that typically warrant it.
Similarly, the term can be used to describe actions, policies, or strategies carried out by individuals, organizations, or governments that result in severe suffering or harm without any consideration for mitigating the consequences. Such actions can be perceived as relentless, unyielding, and unrelenting, leaving no room for compromise or negotiation.
Overall, the notion of being "merciless" implies a state of being unfeeling, unresponsive, or unsympathetic towards the suffering of others, characterized by a refusal to grant relief, leniency, or respite.
Without mercy; hardhearted; cruel; unsparing.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "merciless" can be traced back to the Old French word "merci", meaning "mercy" or "kindness". It is derived from the Latin word "mercedem", which means "reward" or "pay". Over time, the negative prefix "merci-" was added to form "merci less" or "merci lees", which eventually evolved into the modern English word "merciless". The term "merciless" signifies the absence or denial of mercy or kindness.