merciful
UK/'mә:siful/US
TOEFLB2
Definitions
adj.
Showing compassion or forgiveness, especially toward someone you could punish
仁慈的，宽厚的；（对可惩处之人）从宽的
adj.
Giving welcome relief from something unpleasant (e.g. a merciful end)
（让人）得以解脱的，可庆幸的（如 a merciful end）
Root Breakdown
Root-derivedmercy + -ful ('full of') = full of mercy. The compassion sense follows directly. A second, gentler use ('a merciful release') applies it to events that spare someone further suffering — as if the situation itself were showing mercy.
Root merx still carries 9 more wordsCommon Collocations
- 1.merciful God仁慈的上帝
- 2.a merciful release（让人）解脱的结局
- 3.merciful end得以解脱的结局
Example Sentences
- 1.
The judge was merciful and gave him a lighter sentence.
- 2.
After months of pain, his death was a merciful release.
- 3.
We prayed to a merciful God for forgiveness.