flint-hearted
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having a heart as hard as flint: "flint-hearted" describes a person who is unfeeling, cruel, or lacking in compassion; someone who is emotionally cold and indifferent to the suffering of others.
Usage Examples
- (The landlord showed no sympathy or mercy.)
- (Her refusal was cold and without pity.)
- (He was ruthless and unemotional in his dealings.)
Advanced Usage
- "to have a flint-hearted nature": to be inherently cruel or unfeeling.
- The dictator’s flint-hearted nature led to widespread suffering. (His natural lack of compassion caused harm.)
- "flint-hearted indifference": a complete lack of concern for others’ feelings.
- The government’s flint-hearted indifference to poverty was condemned by activists. (The government showed no care for the poor.)
Variants and Related Words
- Flinty (adj): resembling flint in hardness or coldness; unyielding.
- Her flinty stare made him feel unwelcome. (Her gaze was hard and unfriendly.)
- Heartless (adj): lacking compassion or feeling; cruel.
- The heartless remark hurt her deeply. (The remark showed no empathy.)
Synonyms
- Cruel: willfully causing pain or suffering.
- Callous: emotionally hardened; insensitive.
- Unfeeling: lacking sympathy or emotion.
Antonyms
- Kind-hearted: having a gentle, caring nature.
- Compassionate: feeling or showing sympathy for others.
- Tender: gentle and loving.
Related Idioms
- A heart of stone: a completely unfeeling and cold disposition.
- She begged him for mercy, but he had a heart of stone. (He was unmoved by her pleas.)
- Hard as nails: extremely tough and unemotional.
- The coach was hard as nails and never showed any sympathy. (He was strict and unyielding.)
Etymology Note
The word "flint-hearted" is a compound of "flint" (a hard, grey stone used to make sparks) and "hearted" (having a specific kind of heart). The imagery suggests a heart as hard and unyielding as the stone flint, emphasizing emotional coldness.