merciful
Translation
merciful, compassionate
Examples
The merciful judge gave him a lighter sentence.
The merciful judge gave him a lighter sentence.
It was a merciful end to his suffering.
It was a merciful end to his suffering.
Grammar Patterns
merciful ((to sb.)) showing mercy to (sb.) The king was merciful to the prisoners.
Similar Words
Synonyms: compassionate, lenient, forgiving; Antonyms: merciless, cruel
Etymology
Comes from 'mercy' + '-ful' (full of). It literally means 'full of mercy'.
Memory Tips
Think of someone who is 'full of mercy'. The suffix '-ful' is a big clue to its meaning.