mercy

5 definitions • 9 examples

kindness that makes you forgive someone, usually someone that you have authority over:

She appealed to the judge to have mercy on her husband.

The prisoners pleaded for mercy.

The gunmen showed no mercy, killing innocent men and women.

to be in a situation where someone or something has complete power over you:

Poor people are increasingly at the mercy of predatory lenders.

an event or situation that you are grateful for because it stops something unpleasant:

After months of suffering, his death was a mercy.

They were on a mercy mission to take food to the refugees when they were attacked.

kindness shown toward someone whom you have the right or power to punish:

He begged for mercy.

The soldiers showed no mercy toward their prisoners.

something that is considered lucky because it is not as bad as it had been or could have been:

It’s a mercy that no one was hurt in the fire.