despiadado
“despiadado” means “ruthless” in Spanish. It has 2 different meanings depending on context:
ruthless
Also: merciless, heartless
📝 In Action
El pirata era conocido por ser un hombre despiadado.
B1The pirate was known for being a ruthless man.
Recibió una crítica despiadada por su última película.
B2He received a merciless critique for his latest movie.
En los negocios, a veces hay que ser un poco despiadado para tener éxito.
C1In business, sometimes you have to be a bit ruthless to be successful.
ruthless person
Also: brute
📝 In Action
Ese hombre es un despiadado que no piensa en los demás.
B2That man is a ruthless person who doesn't think about others.
Solo un despiadado trataría así a un animal.
B2Only a heartless person would treat an animal that way.
La historia lo recordará como un despiadado.
C1History will remember him as a ruthless man.
Translate to Spanish
✏️ Quick Practice
Quick Quiz: despiadado
Question 1 of 3
Which sentence correctly describes a female villain?
📚 More Resources
👥 Word Family▼
📚 Etymology▼
Formed by adding the prefix 'des-' (meaning 'without') to the word 'piedad' (pity/mercy), followed by the ending '-ado' which turns it into a describing word.
First recorded: 15th century
Cognates (Related words)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is 'despiadado' always a bad thing?
Almost always. It implies a lack of human feeling or kindness. However, in sports or business contexts, it's sometimes used as a backhanded compliment for someone who is very competitive.
How is it different from 'cruel'?
They are very similar! 'Cruel' focuses on the desire to cause pain, while 'despiadado' literally means you just don't have any pity or mercy to stop you from being harsh.
Does it have a verb form?
Not directly. To express the action of being ruthless, you would use phrases like 'actuar de forma despiadada' (to act in a ruthless way).