mercy
[noun]
Synonyms:
- compassion, clemency, forbearance, forgiveness, grace, kindness, leniency, pity
- blessing, boon, godsend

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Contrasted words: reprisal, retaliation, retribution, revenge, vengeance, castigation, chastening, chastisement, punishment
Related Words: commiseration, compassion, pity, ruth, benevolence, benignancy, benignity, kindliness, kindness, generosity, goodwill

[TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲

mer‧cy /ˈmɜːsi $ ˈmɜːrsi/ noun
[Date: 1100-1200; Language: Old French; Origin: merci, from Latin merces 'price paid, payment for work', from merx 'things for sale']

1. [uncountable] if someone shows mercy, they choose to forgive or to be kind to someone who they have the power to hurt or punish:
He showed no mercy to his enemies.
God have mercy on his soul.
beg/cry/plead for mercy
The boy was screaming and begging for mercy.

2. at the mercy of somebody/something unable to do anything to protect yourself from someone or something:
After the boat’s motor failed, they were at the mercy of the weather.
She was completely at his mercy.

3. mercy flight/mission etc a journey taken to bring help to people:
a mercy mission to help homeless refugees

4. leave somebody to sb’s (tender) mercies to let someone be dealt with by another person, who may treat them very badly or strictly – used humorously

5. throw yourself on sb’s mercy to ask someone to help you or forgive you when you are in a very bad situation

6. it’s a mercy (that) spoken used to say that it is lucky that a worse situation was avoided:
It’s a mercy the accident happened so near the hospital.
⇒ be thankful/grateful for small mercies at small¹(13)

[TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲

mercy
noun
ADJ. divine, infinite God's infinite mercy
VERB + MERCY ask for, beg for, plead for, scream for | have, show (sb) God have mercy on us! They showed no mercy to their captives.
MERCY + NOUN dash, flight, mission Aid agencies are making mercy flights into the flood region.
killing
PREP. at the ~ of We're at the mercy of the weather.
without ~ The terrorists are completely without mercy.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

mercy

have mercy (on somebody) (=act in a kind or forgiving way - often used to express a hope or prayer)
‘God have mercy on me!’ Miss Barton cried.
show mercy (to somebody) (=act in a kind or forgiving way)
He showed no mercy to those who had angered him.
ask for mercy
The only thing I can do now is ask for mercy.
beg/plead for mercy (=ask in a desperate way for someone's mercy)
She continued the punishment, although they begged for mercy.
scream/cry for mercy
He screamed for mercy, shouting 'don't shoot!'.
great mercy
God in his great mercy has forgiven you.
God's mercy
Will we still receive God's mercy if we refuse to repent?
divine mercy (=the mercy of God)
He did not lose his faith in God and divine mercy.
infinite mercy (=the quality of mercy that God has, which never ends)
He expressed his thanks for the infinite mercy of God in helping him escape from his own sinful life.

[TahlilGaran] Collocations Dictionary ▲

mercy
ˈmə:sɪ
See: at the mercy of

[TahlilGaran] English Idioms Dictionary ▲