Antonyms of adj merciful

2 senses of merciful

Sense 1
merciful (vs. merciless) -- (showing or giving mercy; "sought merciful treatment for the captives"; "a merciful god")

merciless (vs. merciful), unmerciful -- (having or showing no mercy; "the merciless enemy"; "a merciless critic"; "gave him a merciless beating")
        => cutthroat, fierce, bowelless -- (ruthless in competition; "cutthroat competition"; "bowelless readiness to take advantage")
        => mortal (prenominal) -- (unrelenting and deadly; "mortal enemy")
        => pitiless, remorseless, ruthless, unpitying -- (without mercy or pity; "an act of ruthless ferocity"; "a monster of remorseless cruelty")
        => tigerish -- (resembling a tiger in fierceness and lack of mercy; "a tigerish fury")

Sense 2
merciful -- ((used conventionally of royalty and high nobility) gracious; "our merciful king")

INDIRECT (VIA gracious) -> ungracious -- (lacking charm and good taste; "an ungracious industrial city"; "this curt summary is not meant to be ungracious"; "ungracious behavior")

Similarity of adj merciful

2 senses of merciful

Sense 1
merciful (vs. merciless) -- (showing or giving mercy; "sought merciful treatment for the captives"; "a merciful god")
          Also See-> clement#2; compassionate#1; humane#2; kind#1; soft#2

Sense 2
merciful -- ((used conventionally of royalty and high nobility) gracious; "our merciful king")
       => gracious (vs. ungracious) -- (characterized by charm, good taste, and generosity of spirit; "gracious even to unexpected visitors"; "gracious living"; "he bears insult with gracious good humor")