merciful

adjective

mer·​ci·​ful ˈmər-si-fəl How to pronounce merciful (audio)
: full of mercy : compassionate
a merciful ruler
also : providing relief
a merciful end
mercifulness noun

Examples of merciful in a Sentence

He became less merciful to his enemies. He died a quick and merciful death.
Recent Examples on the Web God is kind, gracious, merciful, truthful and forgiving. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 1 Apr. 2024 Some alternative endings in the Chapter 9 Project include Esther calling for a 36-person task force to mend relationships in the kingdom; for Jews to be merciful, rather than vengeful; and for everyone in Persia to surrender their weapons. Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 23 Mar. 2024 See all Example Sentences for merciful 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'merciful.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of merciful was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near merciful

Cite this Entry

“Merciful.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/merciful. Accessed 29 May. 2024.

Kids Definition

merciful

adjective
mer·​ci·​ful ˈmər-si-fəl How to pronounce merciful (audio)
: having or showing mercy : compassionate
a merciful ruler
mercifully
-f(ə-)lē
adverb
mercifulness noun
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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