Merciful
/ˈmɜːsɪfʊl/
Definitions
Characterized by or showing mercy; compassionate; lenient.
/ˈmɜːsɪfʊl/
Showing or exercising compassion or forgiveness towards someone.
The king, known for his merciful nature, pardoned the prisoners.
💡 Simply: Being merciful is like having a big heart and letting someone off the hook when they've done something wrong. Imagine your friend breaks your favorite toy, but you don't get mad because you understand they didn't mean to. You're being merciful!
👶 For kids: Being merciful means being kind and forgiving to someone, even when they do something that makes you upset.
More Examples
The merciful act of the volunteer made a big difference to the patients.
She was merciful to her opponents, even when they were defeated.
How It's Used
"The merciful God forgave the sinners."
"The judge showed a merciful leniency during the sentencing."
Synonyms & Antonyms
Idioms & expressions
a merciful release
An ending to suffering or hardship.
"The doctor recommended a merciful release to end the patient's suffering."
From Middle English 'merciable,' derived from Old French 'merciful' (full of mercy), from Latin 'merces' (reward, grace).
Historically, the word 'merciful' was strongly associated with religious contexts, describing divine grace and compassion.
Memory tip
Think of a *merciful* judge showing *mercy* and forgiving a defendant.
Word Origin
"grace, reward"