mercy

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "mercy" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to refer to an act of kindness or compassion towards an enemy during a conflict, or a kindly and forgiving attitude towards someone who has done wrong. For example: "The king showed mercy when he offered to forgive his enemies for their transgressions."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Once again the art form finds itself at the mercy of people's agendas, batted around by forces that have little to do with its own health and future.

The Guardian

They were going into every challenge full-blooded and Chris Gunter showed no mercy as he challenged Danny Lafferty so forcefully he sent the Northern Ireland international flying over the advertising hoardings, wiped the linesman out and also saw a ball boy require lengthy treatment that ended in the youngster being carried away on the stretcher.

The Guardian - Sport

After comments by Mark Britnell, the head of health at accountancy giants KPMG giants and a former adviser of David Cameron, hit the headlines in May 2011 – Britnell told an investors' conference that "the NHS will be shown no mercy and the best time to take advantage of this will be in the next couple of years" – the industry got a grip.

The Guardian

Cult musical in which an ex-con and his brother stage a mercy dash across the US to stage a charity gig that will save an orphanage from closure.

The Guardian - Film

She who had treated her colleagues with so little mercy received none from them at the end.

The Guardian

But the subjects Tarantino finds consistently exciting are people being murdered, people screaming in pain, people begging for mercy.

The Guardian - Opinion

They are often poorly paid and without any specific dementia training; she is at the mercy of a care service with no time to care.

The Guardian

Time to quickly select Andy Fairweather-Low's Wide Eyed And Legless to prompt his memory and spark his conscience: he needs to be in a position to grant mercy to poor innocents led astray by "God's grain".

The Guardian - Music

For six years Britain has arguably been at the mercy of a single figure, the historic low interest rates that have been in part the bank's penance, and probably all that stood between the nation and widespread social catastrophe.

The Guardian

And I suppose it's one less to remember, which is a mercy".

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Brownback ended his state of the state address on that note: "May God grant us all grace, mercy and truth to carry out our duties".

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "mercy" when you want to emphasize compassion, forgiveness, or forbearance towards someone, especially in situations where punishment or harm is warranted. Consider using it in contexts related to legal, ethical, or moral considerations.

Common error

Avoid using "mercy" when "pity" is more appropriate. "Pity" expresses sorrow for someone's misfortune, while "mercy" suggests refraining from inflicting harm or punishment. For instance, you might feel pity for someone who lost their job, but show mercy to someone who committed a minor offense.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "mercy" is as a noun, referring to compassion or forbearance shown especially to someone whom it is in one's power to punish or harm. According to Ludwig, the word is usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

62%

Formal & Business

19%

Science

19%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "mercy" is a noun that signifies compassion, forgiveness, or forbearance. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and widely employed in English writing. With its usage spanning from news articles to formal documents, "mercy" conveys moral and ethical considerations, particularly in scenarios involving judgment and power. Alternatives like "compassion", "forgiveness", and "leniency" offer nuanced ways to express similar sentiments, while it's crucial not to confuse "mercy" with "pity", ensuring accurate portrayal of intended emotions.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

compassion

Focuses more on empathy and understanding towards someone's suffering.

forgiveness

Emphasizes the act of pardoning someone for an offense.

leniency

Highlights mildness or permissiveness in punishment or treatment.

clemency

Refers to a disposition to show forbearance, compassion, or forgiveness in judging or punishing.

pity

Focuses on feeling sorrow for someone's misfortune.

grace

Implies unmerited favor or divine assistance.

charity

Emphasizes the act of giving help to those in need.

humanity

Highlights the qualities of kindness and compassion inherent in human nature.

benevolence

Focuses on the desire or inclination to do good; an act of kindness.

tenderness

Emphasizes the quality of being gentle, loving, or kind.

FAQs

How can I use "mercy" in a sentence?

"Mercy" can be used to describe showing compassion or forgiveness. For example: "The judge showed "mercy" and reduced the sentence."

What's the difference between "mercy" and "pity"?

"Pity" is feeling sorrow for someone's suffering, while "mercy" involves choosing not to punish or harm someone, even when justified. You might feel "pity" for a victim, but show "mercy" to an offender.

What can I say instead of "show mercy"?

You can use alternatives like "extend "leniency"", "grant "forgiveness"", or "offer "compassion"" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "at the mercy of"?

Yes, "at the mercy of" means being in a situation where you are vulnerable and dependent on someone or something else. For instance: "The sailors were at the "mercy" of the storm."