heartless
- 01 B2 Upper Intermediate
having no pity or sympathy for other people.
lacking compassion, empathy, or emotional sensitivity toward the suffering of others.
Simple“It was heartless of him to fire his assistant right before the holidays.”
In context“The critics described the policy as heartless, arguing that it ignored the basic needs of the most vulnerable members of society.”
Antonyms - 02 C2 Proficiency
feeling afraid or having no spirit to keep trying.
destitute of courage or spirit; characterized by fearfulness or a lack of resolve.
Simple“The soldiers stood heartless and trembling as the enemy approached the gates.”
In context“In the face of such overwhelming odds, the once-bold explorers became heartless and considered abandoning their mission entirely.”
UsageIn modern English, this sense is almost entirely replaced by 'cowardly' or 'discouraged'.
Antonyms - 03 C1 Advanced
not having a physical heart inside the body.
lacking a biological heart; often used in a technical or science-fiction context.
Simple“The scientist designed a heartless robot that functioned using a complex battery system.”
In context“Certain primitive organisms are naturally heartless, relying on simple diffusion rather than a circulatory system to move nutrients.”
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.