ENGLISH
REFERENCE

heartless

adj.
B2 Upper Intermediate US //ˈhɑɹtɫəs// UK //hˈɑːtləs// heart·less Archaic

adj. describing someone who is very unkind and does not care about the feelings or suffering of others. You use this when a person seems to have no sympathy at all.

adj. lacking in compassion, sympathy, or emotional warmth. Often used to describe individuals or actions that show a cruel disregard for the welfare of others.


SIMPLE

It was heartless of him to leave his dog outside in the rain.

CONTEXTUAL

The company's heartless decision to fire the staff right before the holidays caused a public outcry.

COMPLEX

Critics described the policy as heartless, arguing that it prioritised bureaucratic efficiency over the basic human needs of the most vulnerable citizens.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

From Middle English hertles, herteles, from Old English heortlēas (“without courage; listless”), equivalent to heart + -less. Cognate with German herzlos.

Usage

Typically used predicatively after linking verbs like 'be' or 'seem', or attributively before a noun.

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