Meaning & use

ruthlessness

noun·Advanced

Last updated

The quality of having no pity or compassion for others, especially in pursuing a goal.

See it in a sentence

The general's ruthlessness on the battlefield made him both feared and effective.

Her ruthlessness in business negotiations earned her a reputation as a formidable opponent.

A note on using this word

Derived from ruthless, which comes from the archaic noun ruth, meaning pity or compassion.

Words with a similar meaning

mercilessnesscrueltycallousness

Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.

Words with an opposite meaning

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “ruthlessness”, then compare your use with the examples above.

Your draft stays on this page and is not sent anywhere.