pitiless

Pitiless is an adjective meaning not showing pity; merciless, cruel, or unsympathetic. It can describe people, actions, or conditions that demonstrate a complete lack of compassion. In everyday use it may convey severity or relentlessness without implying physical harm, and it is often employed in literary or rhetorical contexts to emphasize harshness or neglect.

Etymology: The word is formed in Middle English from pitie, or pity, plus the suffix -less, literally “without pity.” The sense of uncompassionate behavior has been in use since the 14th century.

Usage notes: Pitiless is commonly used to describe actions, judgments, or environments perceived as unrelenting. While it can refer to concrete cruelty, it is frequently employed metaphorically, for example to describe a difficult trial, a harsh winter, or an impervious stare. The term can carry strong emotional weight and is sometimes chosen for emphasis rather than to state a verifiable fact.

Related forms: pitilessly (adverb) and pitilessness (noun). See also synonyms such as merciless, cruel, unpitying, hard-hearted, and antonyms like compassionate, merciful, pitying.

See also: pity, mercy, compassion, ruthlessness.