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unforgiving

un·for·giv·ing
U u

Transcription

    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • UK Pronunciation
    • UK IPA
    • [uhn-fer-giv-ing]
    • /ˌʌn fərˈgɪv ɪŋ/
    • /ʌnfəˈgɪvɪŋ/
    • US Pronunciation
    • US IPA
    • [uhn-fer-giv-ing]
    • /ˌʌn fərˈgɪv ɪŋ/

Definitions of unforgiving word

  • adjective unforgiving not disposed to forgive or show mercy; unrelenting. 1
  • adjective unforgiving not allowing for mistakes, carelessness, or weakness: the unforgiving nature of aviation. 1
  • adjective unforgiving harsh, merciless 1
  • adjective unforgiving If you describe someone as unforgiving, you mean that they are unwilling to forgive other people. 0
  • adjective unforgiving If you describe a situation or activity as unforgiving, you mean that it causes a lot of people to experience great difficulty or failure, even people who deserve to succeed. 0
  • adjective unforgiving not willing to forgive; unmerciful 0

Information block about the term

Origin of unforgiving

First appearance:

before 1705
One of the 50% oldest English words
First recorded in 1705-15; un-1 + forgiving

Historical Comparancy

Parts of speech for Unforgiving

noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation

unforgiving popularity

A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 62% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.

unforgiving usage trend in Literature

This diagram is provided by Google Ngram Viewer

Synonyms for unforgiving

adj unforgiving

  • dog eat dog — marked by destructive or ruthless competition; without self-restraint, ethics, etc.: It's a dog-eat-dog industry.
  • go for broke — a simple past tense of break.
  • hang in — to fasten or attach (a thing) so that it is supported only from above or at a point near its own top; suspend.
  • hard-hearted — unfeeling; unmerciful; pitiless.
  • hardline — an uncompromising or unyielding stand, especially in politics.

adjective unforgiving

  • coldblooded — having a body temperature that fluctuates, approximating that of the surrounding air, land, or water
  • coldhearted — lacking sympathy; unfeeling
  • hardboiled — Alternative spelling of hard-boiled.
  • harsh — ungentle and unpleasant in action or effect: harsh treatment; harsh manners.
  • wreakful — (obsolete) Vengeful; angry, furious.

Antonyms for unforgiving

adj unforgiving

  • clement — Clement weather is pleasantly mild and dry.
  • kind hearted — having or showing sympathy or kindness: a kindhearted woman.
  • merciful — full of mercy; characterized by, expressing, or showing mercy; compassionate: a merciful God.

adjective unforgiving

  • charitable — A charitable organization or activity helps and supports people who are ill, very poor, or who have a disability.
  • feeling — a quality of an object that is perceived by feeling or touching: the soft feel of cotton.
  • forgiving — disposed to forgive; indicating forgiveness: a forgiving soul; a forgiving smile.

Top questions with unforgiving

  • what is unforgiving?
  • what does unforgiving mean?
  • what is the unforgiving minute?

See also

Matching words

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