Synonyms
- affectless
- callous
- case-hardened
- cold-blooded
- compassionless
- desensitized
- hard
- hard-boiled
- hard-hearted
- indurate
- inhuman
- inhumane
- insensate
- insensitive
- ironhearted
- merciless
- obdurate
- pachydermatous
- pitiless
- remorseless
- ruthless
- slash-and-burn
- soulless
- stony
- stoney
- stonyhearted
- take-no-prisoners
- thick-skinned
- uncharitable
- unfeeling
- unmerciful
- unsparing
- unsympathetic
Examples of heartless in a Sentence
a heartless boss who would fire people for missing work, even if they were sick as a dog
a heartless enemy that takes no prisoners
Recent Examples on the Web
For much of my adult life, economic policy in the United States followed a pattern: Democrats promised voters government largesse, and Republicans who objected were characterized as heartless bigots.
—
Kevin A. Hassett, National Review, 11 Apr. 2024
As Orwell’s latest biographer, D. J. Taylor, has pointed out in Orwell: The New Life, Orwell’s novels before Animal Farm followed a common template of a sensitive young person going up against a heartless society, destined to lose.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
My office will not stand for such heartless and unscrupulous business practices.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024
People who’d never accuse a dog foster to their face of being heartless apparently have no problem sending such messages on Instagram.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
Most media reports in 2015 painted Mukerjea as a heartless woman willing to sacrifice her emotions for the sake of power and money.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The boys almost immediately encounter heartless human smugglers, who don’t even hit the brakes to slow down when a migrant is accidentally thrown from the back of a speeding, overloaded pickup truck.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024
Bill Murray stars as heartless TV exec Frank Cross, who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve to show him the error of his wicked ways.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2024
The heartless street reveals itself as a brimful dungeon to those who look.
—Jay Pilgreen, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024
Kevin A. Hassett, National Review, 11 Apr. 2024
As Orwell’s latest biographer, D. J. Taylor, has pointed out in Orwell: The New Life, Orwell’s novels before Animal Farm followed a common template of a sensitive young person going up against a heartless society, destined to lose.
—Stephen Metcalf, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
My office will not stand for such heartless and unscrupulous business practices.
—Jose R. Gonzalez, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024
People who’d never accuse a dog foster to their face of being heartless apparently have no problem sending such messages on Instagram.
—Caroline Mimbs Nyce, The Atlantic, 28 Mar. 2024
Most media reports in 2015 painted Mukerjea as a heartless woman willing to sacrifice her emotions for the sake of power and money.
—Sweta Kaushal, Forbes, 24 Feb. 2024
The boys almost immediately encounter heartless human smugglers, who don’t even hit the brakes to slow down when a migrant is accidentally thrown from the back of a speeding, overloaded pickup truck.
—Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post, 20 Feb. 2024
Bill Murray stars as heartless TV exec Frank Cross, who is visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve to show him the error of his wicked ways.
—Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 11 Jan. 2024
The heartless street reveals itself as a brimful dungeon to those who look.
—Jay Pilgreen, Kansas City Star, 12 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'heartless.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of heartless was
in the 14th century
Articles Related to heartless
Dictionary Entries Near heartless
Cite this Entry
“Heartless.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/heartless. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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