1
as in troublesome
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2
as in pitying
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Example Sentences
Recent Examples of Synonyms for ruthful
Adjective
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Negative campaigning is nothing new, but Conway’s latest tactics are particularly troublesome.—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
30 Apr. 2026 -
Food waste is heavy and troublesome for landfills but can be beneficially composted.—
Mike Ryan,
Sun Sentinel,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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But this poignant adolescent moment is undercut by their desperation.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
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Nguyen’s poignant, solemn and ultimately hopeful project for the High Line Plinth — a prominent venue for public art that straddles the intersection of West 30th Street and 10th Avenue — follows projects at the site by Iván Argote, Pamela Rosenkranz, Sam Durant and Simone Leigh.—
Benjamin Sutton,
CNN Money,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Others have criticized the White House for taking a vindictive approach and targeting Democratic states that may have larger Medicaid populations and more lenient eligibility requirements.—
Editorial,
Boston Herald,
30 Apr. 2026
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The lenient return policy is a major perk of being a member.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Violators could be ticketed similar to a non-moving violation for a driver.—
Jim Turner,
Sun Sentinel,
18 Mar. 2026
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Each wrong turn is bittersweet, making the eventual reunion even more moving and meaningful.—
Zac Ntim,
Deadline,
17 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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The merciful end came three weeks after Sunderland’s surrender to relegation in May 2017.—
Patrick Boyland,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2026
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The age difference between the Aunt Lydia School students and the actors who play them has never felt more merciful than in this week’s episode.—
Amanda Whiting,
Vulture,
22 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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The Canadian filmmaker Sophy Romvari does something similar with the new movie Blue Heron, a semi-autobiographical piece whose structure loops in on itself, melding fact and fiction into a doleful portrait of a family tragedy.—
Richard Lawson,
HollywoodReporter,
16 Apr. 2026
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Black Hills bucket-listing aside, time here is best spent tubing and fishing on the river, luxuriating in the infrared sauna, or listening to a doleful coyote song under a blanket of stars.—
Ashlea Halpern,
Time,
12 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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This adaptive plant can become tolerant of one herbicide.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
26 Apr. 2026
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Select shade-tolerant grasses or an ornamental groundcover for difficult shady spots.—
Tom MacCubbin,
The Orlando Sentinel,
25 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Each emotional beat arrives with soft footsteps, and is all the more affecting for it.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Apr. 2026
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But the most affecting moment – both in song and on the album – comes at the end, with Bono singing a capella, his voice catching on the final lines as the song ends cold.—
Melissa Ruggieri,
USA Today,
5 Apr. 2026
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Cite this Entry
“Ruthful.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/ruthful. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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