What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
relentless
Example
The relentless rain caused flooding in the streets. [relentless: adjective]
Example
He pursued his dream relentlessly, never giving up. [relentlessly: adverb]
ruthless
Example
The ruthless dictator oppressed his people for years. [ruthless: adjective]
Example
She made a ruthless decision to fire half of her employees. [ruthless: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Relentless is more commonly used than ruthless in everyday language. Relentless can be used in a variety of contexts, including positive ones, while ruthless is almost always negative and associated with cruelty and harm.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between relentless and ruthless?
Both relentless and ruthless are considered formal words and are not commonly used in informal speech.
