The meaning of RUTHLESS is having no pity : merciless, cruel . How to use ruthless in a sentence. If someone can be ruthless, can one also be ruthful? ruthless (comparative more ruthless , superlative most ruthless ) Without pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless. antonym quotations Antonym: ruthful Ruthless means not caring about the pain or suffering of others, or determined to succeed without mercy. Learn more about the word, its synonyms, antonyms, and usage in sentences. The adjective ' ruthless ' has its etymological roots in the Old English word 'rūðlēas,' which can be broken down into 'rū,' meaning 'compassion' or 'pity,' and 'lēas,' meaning 'lacking' or 'without.' In its original form, 'rūðlēas' meant lacking compassion or pity, indicating a lack of mercy or remorse. Over time, this term transitioned into ' ruthless ' in modern English, retaining its fundamental meaning of being marked by a complete lack of compassion, empathy, or remorse, especially ...
