English

Adjective

unforgiving ‎(comparative more unforgiving, superlative most unforgiving)

1. Unwilling or unable to forgive or show mercy.

   The electorate was in an unforgiving mood.

2. Having no allowance for weakness.

   The unforgiving Arctic climate makes short work of the unprepared.

   • 2014 November 14, Stephen Halliday, “Scotland 1-0 Republic of Ireland: Maloney the hero”, in The Scotsman:

     In a raucous atmosphere, it was an unforgiving and physical contest from the start. Grant Hanley conceded the first free-kick within the opening 20 seconds, setting the tone for a busy and thankless evening for Serbian referee Milorad Mazic.

Derived terms

• unforgivingly
• unforgivingness

Translations