ruthless

ruthless
[[t]ru͟ːθləs[/t]]
1) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ in n (disapproval) If you say that someone is ruthless, you mean that you disapprove of them because they are very harsh or cruel, and will do anything that is necessary to achieve what they want.

The President was ruthless in dealing with any hint of internal political dissent.

...an invasion by a ruthless totalitarian power...

The late newspaper tycoon is condemned for his ruthless treatment of employees.

Syn:
merciless, callous
Derived words:
ruthlessly ADV-GRADED ADV with v

The Party has ruthlessly crushed any sign of organised opposition.

ruthlessness N-UNCOUNT

...a powerful political figure with a reputation for ruthlessness.

2) ADJ-GRADED: oft ADJ in n A ruthless action or activity is done forcefully and thoroughly, without much concern for its effects on other people.

Her lawyers have been ruthless in thrashing out a divorce settlement...

Successfully merging two banks requires a fast and ruthless attack on costs.

Derived words:
ruthlessly ADV-GRADED

Ghislaine showed signs of turning into the ruthlessly efficient woman her father wanted her to be.

ruthlessness N-UNCOUNT

...a woman with a brain and business acumen and a certain healthy ruthlessness.


English dictionary. 2008.

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  • Ruthless — can refer to:* Ruthless (song) , a song by the Statler Brothers * Ruthless (film), a 1948 film starring Zachary Scott * Ruthless (horse), a race horse * Ruthless! (musical), a 1992 musical * Ruthless (album), an album by Bizzy Bone *Ruthless… …   Wikipedia

  • Ruthless — Records ist eine Plattenfirma aus Los Angeles. Das 1987 von Eazy E und Jerry Heller gegründete Label gilt als Geburtsstätte des Gangsta Rap. Das Label promotote zunächst damals lokale Künstler wie die Rapper Dr. Dre, Ice Cube, MC Ren und DJ Yella …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Ruthless — Ruth less, a. Having no ruth; cruel; pitiless. [1913 Webster] Their rage the hostile bands restrain, All but the ruthless monarch of the main. Pope. [1913 Webster] {Ruth less*ly}, adv. {Ruth less*ness}, n. [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ruthless — est le second album du rappeur de Broward Country (Floride), Ace Hood, sorti le 30 juin 2009 sur le label Def Jam/We The Best Music. Overtime avec Akon et T Pain est le premier single de l album. Straight Outta Broward, une reprise de Straight… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • ruthless — I adjective atrocious, barbarous, bloodthirsty, brutal, brutish, callous, cold, cold blooded, cold hearted, cruel, deadly, demoniac, devilish, diabolical, dispiteous, fell, feral, ferine, ferocious, fiendish, grim, hard, hardhearted, harsh,… …   Law dictionary

  • ruthless — early 14c., with LESS (Cf. less) + reuthe pity, compassion (late 12c.), formed from reuwen to rue (see RUE (Cf. rue) (v.)) on the model of true/truth, etc. Ruthful (early 13c.) has fallen from use since late 17c. except as a deliberate archaism.… …   Etymology dictionary

  • ruthless — [adj] mean, heartless adamant, barbarous, brutal, callous, cold, cold blooded, cruel, cutthroat, dog eat dog*, feral, ferocious, fierce, grim, hard, hard hearted, harsh, implacable, inexorable, inhuman, ironfisted, killer, malevolent, merciless,… …   New thesaurus

  • ruthless — ► ADJECTIVE ▪ having or showing no compassion. DERIVATIVES ruthlessly adverb ruthlessness noun …   English terms dictionary

  • ruthless — [ro͞o′th′lis] adj. [ME reutheles] without ruth; pitiless SYN. CRUEL ruthlessly adv. ruthlessness n …   English World dictionary

  • Ruthless! — Infobox Musical name= Ruthless! The Musical caption=Los Angeles Cast Recording music= Marvin Laird lyrics= Joel Paley book= Joel Paley basis= productions= 1992 Off Broadway 1993 Los Angeles awards= Ruthless! The Musical is an all female musical… …   Wikipedia

  • ruthless — 01. The leader of the party is [ruthless], and will do anything to stay in power. 02. The demonstration was [ruthlessly] put down by government security forces. 03. The government [ruthlessly] suppresses the opposition through murder, torture and …   Grammatical examples in English

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