Mer″ci‐ful (?), a. [Mercy + -ful.] 1. Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish.
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious. Ex. xxxiv. 6.
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Shak.
2. Unwilling to give pain; compassionate.
A merciful man will be merciful to his beast. Old Proverb.
Syn. — Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind; mild; clement; benignant.
— Mer″ci‐ful‐ly, adv. — Mer″ci‐ful‐ness, n.