Pitilessness

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. The characteristic of having no compassion or mercy toward others is the essence of an uncaring disposition that disregards the suffering of others
2. The quality of showing no kindness or sympathy toward others' pain or misfortune
3. An absence of pity or gentleness, demonstrating harshness in dealing with people

Etymology: "Pitilessness" is a plain English compound: the adjective "pitiless" (without pity) with the suffix "-ness," which turns an adjective into a noun naming a quality or state. The suffix itself is very old, descending from a Germanic formation that also gave English words like "kindness" and "darkness," and it passed through Old English "-nes" and Middle English "-nesse" before settling into its modern form. The base "pitiless" follows the same pattern, joining "pity" with the suffix "-less," meaning "without." So the word stacks two ordinary English building blocks, one that names a feeling and one that removes it. Nothing about it is coined or borrowed; it is a straightforward formation that English speakers can build from any adjective ending in "-less."

Synonyms: cruelty, mercilessness, heartlessness

Antonyms: compassion, kindness, mercy