Heartless Meaning: Cruel & Unfeeling – Definition and Examples

Meaning 1：cruel and unfeeling (heartless)

heartless 🔊

/ˈhɑːrtləs/

adj.

showing no kindness or care for others' feelings; cruel and unfeeling.

Heartless person ignoring a shivering animal on a rainy street, showing cruelty

cruel and unfeeling 🔊

➕

/ˈkruːəl ænd ʌnˈfiːlɪŋ/

adj.

Describes someone who shows no kindness, pity, or care for others; deliberately cold and indifferent to suffering.

📁 Category：Behaviors & Actions 🔖 Level：intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

heart (emotions) + -less (without) = without emotional kindness.

💡 Mnemonic

Think of a person without a heart—they cannot feel empathy.

📖 Example

It was heartless of him to just walk past the shivering puppy in the rain without offering any help. 🔊 It was heartless of him to just walk past the shivering puppy in the rain without offering any help.

🔗 Collocations

a heartless person – a cruel and unfeeling individual

heartless act – an action showing no compassion

heartless decision – a decision made without empathy

🔄 Synonyms

cruel (adj.) – causing pain or suffering to others deliberately.

callous (adj.) – showing no concern for others' feelings; emotionally hardened.

ruthless (adj.) – having no pity; willing to do anything to achieve one's goals.

🚫 Antonyms

kind (adj.) – showing gentle and caring behavior towards others.

compassionate (adj.) – feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.

merciful (adj.) – showing forgiveness or pity, especially toward someone who deserves punishment.

🌱 Derivatives

heartlessness (n.) – the state of being cruel and unfeeling.

heartlessly (adv.) – in a manner that shows no kindness or pity.

📖 Cultural Story

Originating from Old English 'heortleas', it combines 'heart' (the seat of emotions) and '-less' (without). It has retained the same meaning of lacking compassion for over a thousand years.