Definitions
- Describing someone who shows no pity or compassion towards others. - Referring to a situation or action that is harsh and unforgiving. - Talking about a person or thing that is unrelenting and cruel.
- Describing someone who is willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, regardless of the consequences. - Referring to a situation or action that is cruel and without mercy. - Talking about a person or thing that is heartless and unfeeling.
List of Similarities
- 1Both words describe a lack of compassion or mercy.
- 2Both words can be used to describe people or situations.
- 3Both words have negative connotations.
- 4Both words imply a sense of cruelty or harshness.
What is the difference?
- 1Usage: Merciless is often used to describe actions or situations, while ruthless is more commonly used to describe people.
- 2Intensity: Merciless implies a lack of mercy or compassion, while ruthless implies a willingness to do whatever it takes to achieve one's goals, even if it means causing harm to others.
- 3Scope: Merciless can be used in a wider range of contexts than ruthless, which is more specific to describing people and their actions.
- 4Connotation: Merciless has a slightly less negative connotation than ruthless, which is often associated with extreme cruelty and heartlessness.
Remember this!
Merciless and ruthless are synonyms that describe a lack of compassion or mercy. However, merciless is often used to describe actions or situations that are harsh and unforgiving, while ruthless is more commonly used to describe people who are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve their goals, even if it means causing harm to others.