different between monstrous vs ruthless

English

Etymology

From Middle English monstrous, from Old French monstrueuse, monstrüos, from Latin m?nstr?sus. Compare monstruous.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?m?nst??s/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?m?nst??s/
• Hyphenation: mon?strous

Adjective

monstrous (comparative more monstrous, superlative most monstrous)

1. Hideous or frightful.
2. Enormously large.

   a monstrous height
3. Freakish or grotesque.

   • The irregular and monstrous births

   • 1650, Jeremy Taylor, The rule and exercises of holy living

     He, therefore, that refuses to do good to them whom he is bound to love […] is unnatural and monstrous in his affections.

4. Of, or relating to a mythical monster; full of monsters.
5. (obsolete) Marvellous; exceedingly strange; fantastical.

Synonyms

• See also Thesaurus:gigantic

Translations

Middle English

Adjective

monstrous

1. Alternative form of monstruous

English

Etymology

From Middle English reuþeles; equivalent to ruth +? -less.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /??u??l?s/

Adjective

ruthless (comparative more ruthless, superlative most ruthless)

1. Without pity or compassion; cruel, pitiless.

   Antonym: ruthful

   • 1725, Alexander Pope et al. (translators), Homer (author), The Odyssey of Homer, Volume I, Bernard Lintot, page 10:

     At length their rage the ho?tile Pow’rs re?train, / All but the ruthle?s Monarch of the Main.

Related terms

• ruthlessness

Translations

Anagrams

• Selhurst, hurtless, hustlers, sluthers