mercifulness

1 5.6

Kindness and forgiveness shown to people you could punish

noun
/ˈmɜːrsɪfəlnəs/

: misericordia

In times of war, the soldiers displayed remarkable mercifulness by sparing civilian lives.

Because Kilpatrick customary mercifulness doesn't get enacted in this.

Examples

Because Kilpatrick customary mercifulness doesn't get enacted in this.

Gregory B. Sadler - That Philosophy Guy
Her mercifulness towards the stray animals showed her kind heart and compassion.
The old man's mercifulness was evident when he forgave those who had wronged him.

Synonyms

mercy

vsmercifulness

473 1.3

Kindness shown to someone who is suffering or could be punished

emphasizes the general quality of forgiving when punishment is possible

grace

vsmercifulness

347 3.9

Kindness and forgiveness shown to someone who has not earned it

is about the general disposition to forgive rather than favour shown

compassion

vsmercifulness

344 2.7

A strong feeling of care for someone who is suffering and a wish to help them

adds the idea of forgiving or excusing when punishment is possible

kindness

vsmercifulness

257 1.0

Friendly and generous actions that help or comfort other people

places more weight on forgiving others who could be punished

charity

vsmercifulness

66 1.4

Being kind and forgiving toward other people

focuses more narrowly on forgiving when one could impose punishment

tenderness

vsmercifulness

41 3.4

A gentle caring feeling of love and concern for someone

is about choosing to forgive or spare someone rather than simple care

clemency

vsmercifulness

Formal

35 8.4

Mercy that a person in power gives, for example a judge or governor

is the personal quality of forgiving even without formal power

leniency

vsmercifulness

26 4.6

Not being strict when judging or punishing someone

is about showing forgiving feeling rather than lowering strictness

gentleness

vsmercifulness

18 1.3

A kind, calm way of treating people or animals

is more about forgiving or pardoning choices than gentle temperament

benevolence

vsmercifulness

16 6.1

Kind feelings and actions that help other people

is specifically the readiness to forgive or show mercy to wrongdoers

graciousness

vsmercifulness

6 4.1

Being kind, polite, and generous to other people

centres specifically on forgiving or pardoning rather than polite behaviour

loving-kindness

vsmercifulness

4 5.2

A warm, gentle feeling of care and concern for other people

is oriented toward forgiving actions rather than affectionate motivation

magnanimity

vsmercifulness

Formal

3 8.5

Showing great kindness and forgiveness to an opponent or someone weaker

is more narrowly about forgiving when one could punish or harm

lenience

vsmercifulness

1 6.0

To be kind when judging or punishing people

focuses more on inward forgiving feeling than legal mildness

humaneness

vsmercifulness

1 5.1

Kindness and care for people or animals

highlights forgiving and pardoning others rather than general humane care

kindliness

vsmercifulness

1 3.2

Being friendly, generous, and caring to other people

adds the specific choice to forgive rather than only being friendly

benignity

vsmercifulness

1 8.1

A kind, gentle way of acting that makes people feel safe

adds the stronger element of forgiving potential punishment or harm

lenity

vsmercifulness

Formal

1 9.9

Being kind and not strict when judging or punishing someone

is about the general quality of forgiving when punishment is possible

compassionateness

vsmercifulness

1 7.6

A deep care for people who suffer that makes you want to help them

is more about forgiving behaviour toward wrongdoers than only empathy

misericordia

vsmercifulness

Archaic

1 9.9

Kindness shown to people who are suffering

is the secular quality of forgiving and showing compassion more broadly

warmheartedness

vsmercifulness

1 4.4

A kind and friendly feeling toward other people

is specifically the readiness to forgive people who have wronged you

tenderheartedness

vsmercifulness

1 5.8

A kind, gentle feeling that makes you feel sorry for others and want to help them

focuses more on deliberate forgiveness when harm could be given

magnanimousness

vsmercifulness

Formal

9.0

Being kind and generous to people with less power

focuses specifically on forgiving acts rather than general nobility

Antonyms

mercilessness

1 8.4

A complete lack of pity or kindness toward others

How Merciful

mercy

473 1.3

mercifulness

1 5.6

leniency

26 4.6

benevolence

16 6.1

compassion

344 2.7

Surface Forms

mercifulness singular

mercifulnesses plural

Morphology

mercifulness = merciful (transparent) = mercy + ful + ness

Formed by adding the noun-forming suffix '-ness' to the adjective 'merciful', giving the direct meaning 'the quality of being merciful'.

Etymology

Mercifulness comes from mercy, and that goes back to the Latin misericordia, made from miser 'wretched' and cor 'heart'. So mercifulness is like having a 'heart' that feels for people in trouble and chooses pity or forgiveness instead of punishment.