noun
Meaning 1
The state of being merciful; mercy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
mercifulness
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.
noun
Meaning 2
leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he threw himself on the mercy of the court
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: clemency, mercy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: lenience, leniency
Narrower terms: commutation, re-sentencing, amnesty, pardon, free pardon, quarter, reprieve, respite
noun
Meaning 3
a disposition to be kind and forgiving
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mercy
Antonyms: mercilessness
Broader terms: humaneness
Narrower terms: compassion, pity, forgivingness, kindness, lenience, leniency, mildness, lenity
noun
Meaning 4
the feeling that motivates compassion
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: mercy
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: compassion, compassionateness
Narrower terms: forgiveness
History
Etymology
From Middle English mercyfulnes, mercyfullenesse, equivalent to merciful + -ness.
Across languages
Translations
2 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Finnish: armahtavaisuus — state of being merciful
- Finnish: armeliaisuus — state of being merciful