Pitiless
/ˈpɪt.i.ləs/noun
Showing no pity or mercy.
Did you know?Pitiless is a straightforward English formation, but its power comes from the ancient idea of pity as a moral force—something you could withhold like a spell, not just a feeling.
Etymological Timeline
Old English
OE
pity
“Compassion, mercy, or a feeling of sorrow for another's suffering”
Late Old English / Early Middle English
English
piti
“A form influenced by Old French, carrying the sense of compassion or mercy”
Middle English
English
-less
“A suffix meaning 'without' or 'lacking'”
14th Century
English
pitiless
“Without pity; merciless”
Modern English
English
pitiless
“Showing no pity or mercy”