How to Say "merciless" in Spanish
The most common Spanish word for “merciless” is “cruel” — use 'cruel' when describing someone or something that shows a general lack of pity or kindness, often referring to harsh actions or treatment.
cruel
kroo-ELkɾuˈel
Examples
El trato de los prisioneros era cruel.
The treatment of the prisoners was cruel.
El dictador era conocido por sus métodos crueles.
The dictator was known for his cruel methods.
La vida a veces puede ser muy cruel e injusta.
Life can sometimes be very harsh and unfair.
Fue un comentario cruel que hirió sus sentimientos.
It was a cruel comment that hurt her feelings.
Gender is Invariable
Unlike many Spanish adjectives, 'cruel' is the same for both masculine and feminine nouns. You say 'el hombre cruel' (the cruel man) and 'la mujer cruel' (the cruel woman).
Forgetting the Plural
Mistake: “Los jefes cruel.”
Correction: The correct plural is 'crueles': Los jefes crueles. Adjectives ending in a consonant add '-es' to become plural.
despiadado
des-pyah-dah-dohdespjaˈðaðo
Examples
El hombre de negocios era despiadado en sus negociaciones.
The businessman was ruthless in his negotiations.
El pirata era conocido por ser un hombre despiadado.
The pirate was known for being a ruthless man.
Recibió una crítica despiadada por su última película.
He received a merciless critique for his latest movie.
En los negocios, a veces hay que ser un poco despiadado para tener éxito.
In business, sometimes you have to be a bit ruthless to be successful.
Gender Matching
Remember to change the 'o' to 'a' if you are describing a woman or a feminine object, like 'una mujer despiadada' or 'una guerra despiadada'.
Placement for Emphasis
In Spanish, putting this word after the noun makes it sound more descriptive and intense, which is how it's most commonly used.
Confusing with 'disappointed'
Mistake: “Estoy despiadado con los resultados.”
Correction: Estoy decepcionado con los resultados. 'Despiadado' means ruthless, not disappointed!
Cruel vs. Despiadado
Related Translations
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