Word
heartless
Phoneticsheart·less, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈhɑɹtɫəs/
UK/hˈɑːtləs/
Definitions
01cruel or uncaring
B2 · Upper Intermediate
adj. having no pity or sympathy for other people.
adj. lacking compassion, empathy, or emotional sensitivity toward the suffering of others.
“It was heartless of him to fire his assistant right before the holidays.”
“The critics described the policy as heartless, arguing that it ignored the basic needs of the most vulnerable members of society.”
Antonyms
02lacking courage
C2 · Proficiency Archaic · Literary
adj. feeling afraid or having no spirit to keep trying.
adj. destitute of courage or spirit; characterized by fearfulness or a lack of resolve.
“The soldiers stood heartless and trembling as the enemy approached the gates.”
“In the face of such overwhelming odds, the once-bold explorers became heartless and considered abandoning their mission entirely.”
Usage
In modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'cowardly' or 'discouraged'.
Antonyms
03without a physical heart
C1 · Advanced Science Technical
adj. not having a physical heart inside the body.
adj. lacking a biological heart; often used in a technical or science-fiction context.
“The scientist designed a heartless robot that functioned using a complex battery system.”
“Certain primitive organisms are naturally heartless, relying on simple diffusion rather than a circulatory system to move nutrients.”
Etymology
From Middle English hertles, herteles, from Old English heortlēas (“without courage; listless”), equivalent to heart + -less. Cognate with German herzlos.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/heartless