CEFR C1

merciful

adjective

Meaning

Showing compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

Examples

The king was known for being merciful to his defeated enemies.
She hoped for a merciful outcome after she confessed her mistake.

Synonyms: kind, gentle, forgiving, lenient, compassionate

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merciful (C1)

adjective

Pronunciation: /ˈmɜːrsɪfəl/

Definition

Showing compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

Examples

The king was known for being merciful to his defeated enemies.
She hoped for a merciful outcome after she confessed her mistake.
The doctor provided a merciful end to the animal's suffering.

How to Use merciful

be merciful to (prepositional phrase): showing kindness towards a specific person or group. — "Please be merciful to those who made an honest mistake."

Synonyms of merciful

Words with a similar meaning to merciful:

Antonyms of merciful

Words with the opposite meaning to merciful:

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