mercy
/'mə:si/
Definition
- Noun:
- Compassion or forgiveness shown toward someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm: "Mercy" refers to kindness, pity, or a willingness to spare someone from suffering or punishment.
- An event or situation to be grateful for, especially because it prevents something unpleasant: "Mercy" can also mean a fortunate occurrence that brings relief from distress.
- (In a judicial context) Leniency or compassion shown by an authority to someone who has committed an offense.
Examples of Usage
- Noun:
- The judge showed mercy to the first-time offender. (The judge demonstrated leniency.)
- They prayed for mercy as the storm approached. (They prayed for compassionate relief.)
- It was a mercy that the power came back on during the heatwave. (The return of power was a fortunate relief.)
Advanced Usage
- "to be at the mercy of (someone/something)": to be in a situation where one is entirely powerless against someone or something; to be completely controlled by.
- The small boat was at the mercy of the raging sea.
- "to throw oneself on/upon the mercy of (someone/court)": to plead for leniency or compassion from an authority, admitting one's fault.
- The defendant threw himself on the mercy of the court.
- "to have mercy on (someone)": to show compassion or forgiveness to someone.
- Please, have mercy on us!
Variants and Related Words
- Merciful (adj): showing or exercising mercy; compassionate.
- The merciful king pardoned the prisoners.
- Merciless (adj): showing no mercy; cruel.
- The merciless critic tore apart the young author's work.
- Mercifulness (n): the quality or state of being merciful.
Synonyms
- Clemency: (formal) leniency and mercy, especially in the administration of justice.
- Compassion: sympathetic pity and concern for the sufferings or misfortunes of others.
- Leniency: the fact or quality of being more merciful or tolerant than expected.
- Grace: (especially in Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor of God, often associated with mercy.
Related Phrases
- "Mercy killing": (a compound term, listed here as a related concept) euthanasia; the act of killing someone painlessly to relieve suffering from an incurable disease.
- "Sister of Mercy": (a compound term) a member of a religious order, especially the Roman Catholic Order of Our Lady of Mercy, dedicated to serving the sick and poor.
Idioms
- "For mercy's sake!": An exclamation pleading for compassion or expressing exasperation.
- For mercy's sake, stop making that noise!
- "Leave someone to the tender mercies of (someone)": (often ironic) to leave someone in the care of someone who is likely to be harsh or unsympathetic.
- The new intern was left to the tender mercies of the stern department head.
Noun
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alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed
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distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy
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something for which to be thankful
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it was a mercy we got out alive
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the feeling that motivates compassion
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a disposition to be kind and forgiving
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in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband
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leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
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he threw himself on the mercy of the court
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