MERCILESS, MERCILESSNESS
ADJECTIVES
► CREWELL cruel, merciless, pitiless, hard-hearted → c1385 obs.
► DESPITEOUS spiteful, malevolent, malicious, cruel; passing gradually into the sense: pitiless, merciless → c1510
► DISPITEOUS cruel; spiteful; pitiless, merciless → 1803
► HARD-HEARTED not susceptible to persuasion or to strong emotions; unfeeling; obdurate; cruel, merciless → c1225
► IMPITEOUS cruel, ruthless, pitiless, merciless → 1877
► ORELESS void of reverence, mercy or pity; merciless, cruel → a1000 obs.
► SANGUINOLENT bloodthirsty; cruel; merciless; eager to kill → 1577-87
► SANGUINOUS bloodthirsty; attended by bloodshed; cruel; merciless → 1663 obs.
► STONE-HEARTED cruel, hard-hearted, pitiless, merciless, unfeeling → 1569
► UNMERCIABLE cruel, unkind, merciless, pitiless; unmerciful → a1382 obs.
► WANTON of persons: insolent in triumph or prosperity; reckless of justice and humanity; merciless → 1513 obs.
NOUNS
► CRUDELITY cruelty, mercilessness, hard-heartedness → 1483 obs.
NOUNS – PERSON
► SCALPER a merciless person, esp. in financial dealings → L19 sl.
VERBS
► HAVE PLENTY OF GUTS BUT NO BOWELS to be unfeeling, even hard, merciless → L18 colloq.