mercy

UK: /ˈmɜː^rsi/ US: /ˈmɝsi/ ,(mûr′sē)

Inflections of 'mercy' (n): npl: mercies

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

mer•cy /ˈmɜrsi/   n., pl. -cies. 

1. compassion or kindness shown toward an offender or an enemy;
   benevolence:
   [uncountable] to show no mercy toward enemies.
2. [countable] an act of kindness or compassion.
3. something of good fortune;
   blessing:
   [countable] It was a mercy that they weren't hurt.

Idioms

4. Idioms at the mercy of, in the power of;
   subject to:
   The little boat was completely at the mercy of the hurricane.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

mer•cy  (mûr′sē), n., pl. -cies for 4, 5.

1. compassionate or kindly forbearance shown toward an offender, an enemy, or other person in one's power;
   compassion, pity, or benevolence:
   Have mercy on the poor sinner.
2. the disposition to be compassionate or forbearing:
   an adversary wholly without mercy.
3. Law the discretionary power of a judge to pardon someone or to mitigate punishment, esp. to send to prison rather than invoke the death penalty.
4. an act of kindness, compassion, or favor:
   She has performed countless small mercies for her friends and neighbors.
5. something that gives evidence of divine favor;
   blessing:
   It was just a mercy we had our seat belts on when it happened.
6. Idioms at the mercy of, entirely in the power of;
   subject to:
   They were at the mercy of their captors.

Also, at one's mercy. 

• Latin mercēd- (stem of mercēs) wages (Late Latin, Medieval Latin: heavenly reward), derivative of merx goods
• Old French, earlier mercit
• Middle English merci 1125–75

Synonyms

• 1. forgiveness, indulgence, clemency, leniency, lenity, tenderness, mildness.

Antonyms

• 1. cruelty.

Mer•cy  (mûr′sē), n. 

1. a female given name.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

mercy / ˈmɜːsɪ/ noun ( -cies)

1. compassionate treatment of or attitude towards an offender, adversary, etc, who is in one's power or care; clemency; pity
2. the power to show mercy
3. a relieving or welcome occurrence or state of affairs
4. at the mercy of ⇒ in the power of

Etymology: 12th Century: from Old French, from Latin mercēs wages, recompense, price, from merx goods