compassionless

1 7.4

Shows no sympathy for people who suffer

adjective
/kəmˈpæʃənləs/

: desalmado

The compassionless businessman refused to help the struggling workers during the economic crisis.

Examples

Suj, many of the responses to this column I've found disturbingly compassionless, but yours shows by far the most unwarranted anger and ill will.

Blog text (25)
And next to those three dreadful words, a large, compassionless symbol that seemed to blot out the sun: 0.

Blog text (27)
She was known for her compassionless attitude, often ignoring pleas for help from her friends.
His compassionless remarks made it clear that he did not care about the victims' suffering.

Synonyms

cruel

vscompassionless

522 2.7

Willing to cause pain or suffering to others

is different by adding intent to harm rather than mere absence of sympathy

heartless

vscompassionless

Offensive

79 4.1

Not showing kindness or sympathy to others

is similar but may lack the stronger cruelty implication in the linked term

merciless

vscompassionless

33 5.3

Showing no pity and treating people in a cruel way

is similar but stresses harshness in action rather than mere indifference

uncaring

vscompassionless

18 4.2

Not showing concern for other people's feelings or needs

is similar but highlights general lack of care rather than coldness

unfeeling

vscompassionless

14 5.9

Not showing sympathy or care for other people's feelings

is similar but focuses on the inner coldness rather than simple indifference

unsympathetic

vscompassionless

7 4.9

Not feeling sorry for someone or caring about their problems

is the same lack of sympathy toward suffering rather than active harm

pitiless

vscompassionless

7 7.0

Not showing any pity or kindness

is similar but focuses on refusing mercy in action rather than feeling alone

remorseless

vscompassionless

6 7.5

Not feeling sorry and continuing without stopping when hurting others

is similar but highlights absence of regret or change, not just indifference

unmerciful

vscompassionless

2 7.1

Being very cruel and not kind to others

is the same lack of compassion but emphasizes active harsh treatment

uncompassionate

vscompassionless

1 7.3

Not caring when other people suffer

is the same meaning but uses a different formed adjective

kindless

vscompassionless

Archaic

1 8.6

A person who does not show care for other people

is more about lacking concern for suffering than just unfriendly behaviour

unsympathizing

vscompassionless

7.9

Not showing care or understanding for other people's feelings

is focused on lacking care for suffering specifically rather than general coldness

stonyhearted

vscompassionless

9.6

Not feeling sorry for other people

is similar but states absence of sympathy without the figurative image

highly insensitive

vscompassionless

5.5

Being very uncaring about other people's feelings

is like this but focuses specifically on absence of sympathy for suffering

unpitying

vscompassionless

8.8

Not showing kindness or mercy when others suffer

is similar but centers on lack of sympathy for suffering rather than punishment

noncharitable

vscompassionless

6.7

Not showing kindness to other people

is more about lacking concern for suffering than lacking generosity

Antonyms

sympathetic

152 3.4

Feeling or showing kindness and understanding to someone who is upset

compassionate

151 3.7

Feeling concern and care for people who suffer

How Uncaring

compassionless

1 7.4

heartless

Offensive

79 4.1

to callous

7.9

unfeeling

14 5.9

unsympathetic

7 4.9

indifferent

46 4.4

Surface Forms

compassionless positive

Morphology

compassionless = compassion (transparent) = compassion + less

Meaning is directly derived from 'compassion' + the productive suffix '-less' meaning 'without', so a learner who knows both can infer the sense.

Etymology

Compassionless starts with compassion, from the Latin parts com- ('with') and passion ('suffering'), so it originally meant 'feeling with' someone who is hurt. The ending -less means 'without', so compassionless describes a person who is 'without sympathy' or concern for others.