Unforgiving

/ˌʌnfəˈɡɪvɪŋ/

Meaning & Definition

adjective

Not willing to forgive or excuse someone's mistakes or wrongdoings.

His unforgiving nature made it difficult for anyone to approach him after a conflict.

Harsh or severe; not allowing for error or weakness.

The unforgiving terrain of the mountain range posed a challenge to even the most experienced climbers.

Relentless in pursuit of a goal or standard, often without compassion.

Her unforgiving dedication to perfection left little room for mistakes among her team.

Derived from the prefix 'un-' meaning 'not' and 'forgiving' from Old English 'forgiefan', meaning 'to give up resentment'.

an unforgiving task

a task that is very difficult and offers no leeway for error.

an unforgiving environment

an environment that is extremely harsh and difficult to survive in.

unforgiving memories

memories that are painful and impossible to forget.

forgive

to stop feeling angry or resentful towards someone for an offense or mistake.

relentless

showing or promising no abatement of intensity, strength, or pace.

brutal

The competition was brutal; it left no room for errors.

cutthroat

Their cutthroat business tactics were unforgiving to their rivals.