Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state of being pitiless.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The condition of being pitiless

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun feelings of extreme heartlessness
  • noun mercilessness characterized by a lack of pity

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Things happened with surprising quickness, and each happening was of that particular order which presents itself enshrouded in gloom, and, with a pitilessness which is almost wanton, refuses to allow one gleam of the sunshine, carefully wrapped up in its gloomy folds, to send a single glad ray of hope to those wrestling in its sinister grip.

    Winding Paths Gertrude Page 1897

  • His pitilessness is best displayed in the epigrams and doggerel of "The Devil's Dictionary."

    Lacerating Wit, Seasoned Cynic Bill Kauffman 2011

  • I love the series not just for the impeccable acting and directing, but for the pitilessness of the writing.

    Breaking good shunn 2009

  • One senses, as one watches him wield his strap, that this is not just a demonstration of pitilessness.

    Flogging in Soft Focus 2009

  • I love the series not just for the impeccable acting and directing, but for the pitilessness of the writing.

    Breaking good shunn 2009

  • It's hard to believe that a person who seems to be a functioning member of society could have such bad judgment, distorted perception, and pitilessness.

    Archive 2007-11-01 Ann Althouse 2007

  • ‘Not guilty of pitilessness: all I did was to cheer-up, according to my name, for my name is not Pitiless, but Cheer-Up; and I could not abide to see Mansoul inclined to melancholy.’

    The Holy War 2001

  • He was about to urge her to let well alone and trust heaven to do justice, but then he had a sudden vision of heaven's justice as the Church sometimes applied it, in good but dreadful faith, with all the virtuous narrowness and pitilessness of minds blind and deaf to the infinite variety of humankind, its failings, and aspirations, and needs, and forgetful of all the Gospel reminders concerning publicans and sinners.

    The Holy Thief Peters, Ellis, 1913-1995 1992

  • The remainder of the history of that dire Sunday morning differs from that of other assaults only in harrowing details, and the extremity of the pitilessness and ferocity manifested by the conquerors.

    Charles the Bold Last Duke of Burgundy, 1433-1477 Ruth Putnam

  • "I'm afraid you are a helpless creature," Julia told her, with the stern pitilessness that belongs to youth.

    A Sheaf of Corn Mary E. Mann

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