The Britannica Dictionary
mobile search
Home
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
×
Britannica Homepage
Ask the Editor
Word of the Day
Quizzes
Core Vocabulary
Browse the Dictionary
The Britannica Dictionary
merciful
1 ENTRIES FOUND:
merciful
(adjective)
merciful
/
ˈ
mɚsɪfəl/
adjective
merciful
/
ˈ
mɚsɪfəl/
adjective
Britannica Dictionary definition of MERCIFUL
[
more merciful; most merciful
]
1
:
treating people with kindness and forgiveness
:
not cruel or harsh
:
having or showing mercy
a
merciful
ruler
a
merciful
god
He became less
merciful
to his enemies.
a
merciful
decision
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
2
:
giving relief from suffering
He died a quick and
merciful
death.
The movie at last came to a
merciful
end. [=the movie was so bad that its ending was a relief]
[+] more examples
[-] hide examples
[+] Example sentences
[-] Hide examples
ASK THE EDITOR
When should I use
don't
and
doesn't
? For example, is it "he don't like ice cream" or "he doesn't like ice cream?"
See the answer »
QUIZZES
Vocabulary Quiz
Test your word power
Take the Quiz »
Name That Thing
Take our visual quiz
Test Your Knowledge »
WORD OF THE DAY
external
:
located, seen, or used on the outside or surface of something
Learn More »