merciful

[ mur-si-fuhl ]
/ ˈmɜr sɪ fəl /

adjective

full of mercy; characterized by, expressing, or showing mercy; compassionate: a merciful God.

Origin of merciful

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at mercy, -ful

SYNONYMS FOR merciful

kind, clement, lenient, forgiving, benignant, tender, sympathetic.

ANTONYMS FOR merciful

cruel, relentless.

OTHER WORDS FROM merciful

Words nearby merciful

merci beaucoup, mercia, mercian, mercier, mercier's bar, merciful, mercifully, merciless, merckx, mercosur, mercouri

Example sentences from the Web for mercifully

British Dictionary definitions for mercifully (1 of 2)

mercifully
/ (ˈmɜːsɪfʊlɪ) /

adverb

in a way that shows mercy; compassionately mercifully put down
(sentence modifier) fortunately; one is relieved to say that mercifully, all went well

British Dictionary definitions for mercifully (2 of 2)

merciful
/ (ˈmɜːsɪfʊl) /

adjective

showing or giving mercy; compassionate

Derived forms of merciful

mercifulness, noun