Ruthless
/ˈruːθləs/
adjectiveB2
Definition
Ruthless means acting without caring about other people's feelings or pain. A ruthless person is very strict and does not stop to think about being fair or gentle. They focus only on their goal, even if it means being cruel or hard.
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See It in Action
Showing no pity or kindness; very cruel or harsh
- •The ruthless leader ignored the suffering of the people.
- •She was ruthless in business, never letting emotions affect her decisions.
- •The ruthless criminal showed no regret for his actions.
Acting without stopping for fairness or mercy to reach a goal
- •The team played a ruthless game to win the championship.
- •His ruthless ambition made him take risks others would avoid.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "ruthless" like "mean," but much stronger—someone who does not care at all about others' feelings.
- ✓Picture a person who wants to win a game so much that they ignore rules or hurt others without feeling sorry.
- ✓It's the feeling when someone is very cold and tough, like a strict boss who never shows kindness.
- ✓Sounds like "ruth-less" → imagine someone with no "ruth," which means no pity or kindness.
- ✓In stories, villains are often ruthless—they do bad things without feeling bad.
- ✓NOT like "strict" (follows rules but can be fair), ruthless is about being harsh and uncaring.
- ✓NOT like "mean" (can be small or playful), ruthless is serious and very harsh.
- ✓NOT like "kind" or "gentle"—ruthless is the opposite, showing no softness or care.
Try Other Words
- •Merciless: showing no mercy or kindness (Use when you want to emphasize no forgiveness or softness)
- •Harsh: severe or strict (Use when the behavior is strict but not necessarily cruel)
- •Pitiless: without pity (Use when focusing on lack of sympathy or feeling sorry)
- •Cold-hearted: without emotion or kindness (Use when describing someone emotionally cold and unkind)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "ruth" (old English word meaning pity or compassion) + suffix "-less" (without)
- •Etymology: From Old English "rūth" meaning sorrow or pity, combined with "-less" meaning without
- •Historical development: Originally meant "without pity," used since the 1300s
- •Modern usage: Used to describe people or actions that are very cruel or show no mercy, especially when focused on success or power
Reflect & Connect
•Can being ruthless ever be good or necessary? In what situations?
•How do you feel when you meet someone who is ruthless? How does it affect your trust in them?
Fill in the blanks
1.The ruthless manager made decisions ___ without caring about the workers' feelings or problems.
2.When someone is ruthless, they often ignore ___ and focus only on their own goals.
3.Unlike a kind person, a ruthless individual shows no ___ or sympathy.
4.The team played a ruthless game, pushing their opponents ___ without stopping.
5.People describe him as ruthless because he never ___ or apologizes for his actions.
6.Ruthless behavior can cause others to feel ___ or afraid.
7.In stories, villains are often ruthless, doing whatever it takes to ___ their plans.