mercy

Kindness that makes you forgive someone or avoid hurting or punishing them.

• The prisoner begged for mercy.
• The judge showed mercy to the young thief.
• They fought without mercy.

How to use it: have mercy on someone (Please have mercy on him.); show mercy to someone (The ruler showed mercy to the prisoners.)

Similar words: compassion, leniency, clemency

Opposites: cruelty

Common phrases: show mercy, have mercy, beg for mercy, without mercy

Being unable to protect yourself from someone or something that controls what happens to you.

• We were at the mercy of the weather.
• The villagers remained at the mercy of the soldiers.
• Without savings, she was at the mercy of her employer.

How to use it: at the mercy of someone/something (The small boat was at the mercy of the waves.)

Common phrases: at the mercy

Something that makes a bad situation less painful or difficult.

• It was a mercy that nobody was hurt.
• The cool weather was a small mercy.
• We should be grateful for small mercies.

How to use it: it is a mercy that… (It is a mercy that the children are safe.)

Similar words: blessing, relief

Common phrases: small mercy, a mercy

Kindness and forgiveness, especially towards people whose lives are difficult.

• Have mercy on those who are hungry.
• She prayed for forgiveness and mercy.
• His mercy towards the poor inspired others to help.

How to use it: mercy towards someone (They showed mercy towards the homeless.)

Similar words: compassion, kindness

Opposites: cruelty

Common phrases: have mercy, divine mercy, mercy for someone

Used to describe a journey or operation to help people in serious need.

• They left on a mercy mission.
• A mercy flight brought medicine to the island.
• Volunteers joined the mercy operation after the flood.

Similar words: humanitarian

Common phrases: mercy mission, mercy flight, mercy operation

An expression used when you are surprised or frightened.

• Mercy, that gave me a fright!
• Oh, mercy! What a terrible mess!
• Mercy me, how much you have grown!

Similar words: goodness, heavens

Common phrases: mercy me, oh mercy