# merciful

/ˈmɝsɪfəɫ/ (US) · /mˈɜːsɪfəl/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/merciful
Updated: 2026-05-07

## Definition

showing kindness and forgiveness to someone who could be punished. You use this to describe a person who has the power to be mean but chooses to be nice instead.

For teachers: showing or exercising compassion or forgiveness toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm.

## Examples

- The judge was merciful and gave the young man a light sentence.
- After the long battle, the king proved to be a merciful leader by allowing the defeated soldiers to return home safely.
- The sudden rain was a merciful relief to the farmers who had watched their crops wither under the relentless summer sun for weeks.

## Usage notes

- Often used to describe people in positions of authority or events that end suffering.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.