iron-hearted
Adjective - Cruel or unfeeling: "iron-hearted" describes a person who is emotionally hard, lacking compassion or pity; having a heart as hard as iron. - Resolute or stern: It can also describe someone who is unyielding, determined, or severe in character, often in a negative sense.
- (Cruel and unfeeling.)
- (Lacking compassion.)
- (Stern and unyielding.)
"an iron-hearted tyrant": a ruler who is harsh and without mercy.
- The novel's villain was an iron-hearted tyrant who oppressed his people. (A cruel and pitiless ruler.)
"iron-hearted indifference": a state of being completely unmoved by others' suffering.
- The company's iron-hearted indifference to layoffs angered the workers. (A cold, uncaring attitude.)
Iron-heartedness (noun): the quality of being cruel or unfeeling.
- Her iron-heartedness shocked even her closest allies. (Her lack of compassion.)
Iron (adj): made of or resembling iron; figuratively, strong or hard.
- He had an iron will. (A strong, unyielding will.)
- Hard-hearted: lacking sympathy; unfeeling.
- Cold-blooded: without emotion or pity; cruel.
- Stony-hearted: having a heart like stone; unfeeling.
- Ruthless: having no pity; merciless.
- Tender-hearted: kind and compassionate.
- Soft-hearted: easily moved to sympathy.
- Compassionate: feeling or showing pity.
A heart of stone: a completely unfeeling or cruel nature.
- Even a heart of stone would be moved by her story. (An extremely hard, unfeeling heart.)
Hard as nails: very tough, either physically or emotionally.
- The sergeant was as hard as nails, never showing emotion. (Emotionally unyielding.)
Note: The word "iron-hearted" is relatively rare and literary, often used in historical or dramatic contexts to emphasize extreme cruelty or emotional hardness.