Word
mercy
Phoneticsmer·cy, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈmɝsi/
UK/mˈɜːsi/
Definitions
01forgiveness or kindness
B2 · Upper Intermediate Uncountable noun
n. kindness or forgiveness shown to someone who has done something wrong or who you have the power to punish.
n. compassion or forbearance shown toward an offender or an adversary who is within one's power to punish or harm.
日本語:慈悲※
“The prisoner begged the judge for mercy during the trial.”
“The king showed mercy to the rebels, choosing to exile them rather than carry out the death sentences originally decreed.”
Usage
Often used with the verbs 'show', 'grant', or 'beg for'.
Synonyms
02a lucky event
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. something good or lucky that happens, especially when things are otherwise difficult.
n. a fortunate circumstance or a blessing for which one is grateful, often in the context of a larger misfortune.
“It was a mercy that no one was hurt in the car accident.”
“After a week of intense heat, the sudden rain was a small mercy that allowed the farmers to save their remaining crops.”
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “mercy” in context.
Verb
01. beg for mercy
“They were forced to beg for mercy when their supplies ran out during the harsh winter.”
verb + prep + noun
02. plead for mercy
“The prisoner fell to his knees to plead for mercy, hoping the king would spare his life.”
verb + prep + noun
03. show mercy to the defeated
“The general was known for his integrity because he would always show mercy to the defeated soldiers.”
verb + noun + prep + adj + noun
Adjective
04. infinite mercy
“In many religious traditions, the creator is described as having infinite mercy for all living beings.”
adj + noun
05. tender mercy
“The nurse treated the wounded refugees with tender mercy and professional care.”
adj + noun
Noun
06. act of mercy
“Providing clean water to the drought-stricken village was seen as a profound act of mercy.”
noun + of + noun
07. mercy killing
“The debate over mercy killing remains one of the most complex ethical issues in modern medicine.”
noun + noun
Preposition
08. at the mercy of the elements
“Without a proper shelter, the hikers were left at the mercy of the elements during the storm.”
prep + noun + prep + noun
Real-World Examples
“He had unsuccessfully appealed for mercy, saying he was remorseful and had struggled all his life from mental illness.” “A Northern Ontario man turned himself over to the mercy of the courts after attacking his girlfriend with a sword.” Etymology
From mercy in the 17th century; one of the less common Puritan virtue names. In modern use sometimes used to anglicize Spanish Mercedes.
Borrowed from French Mercy.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Idioms
01. mercy fuck
- 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.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL 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: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- C1 · AdvancedOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/mercy
※ 機械で選んだ訳語です。ネイティブスピーカーによる確認はまだです。
「日本語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0