different between ruthless vs bloodthirsty

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

English

Etymology

From blood +? thirsty. Cognate with West Frisian bloeddorstich (“bloodthirsty”), Dutch bloeddorstig (“bloodthirsty”), German blutdürstig (“bloodthirsty”), Danish blodtørstig (“bloodthirsty”), Swedish blodtörstig (“bloodthristy”), Norwegian blodtørstig (“bloodthirsty”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?bl?d???sti/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?bl?d???sti/
• Hyphenation: blood?thirsty, blood?thirs?ty

Adjective

bloodthirsty (comparative bloodthirstier or more bloodthirsty, superlative bloodthirstiest or most bloodthirsty)

1. Thirsty for blood: inexorably violent or eager for bloodshed; murderous.

   Synonyms: bloodlusty, homicidal, (archaic) murtherous, murderous

   Antonym: unbloodthirsty
2. Of a book, film, etc.: depicting much violence; gory, violent.
3. (humorous) Of a mosquito, tenaciously seeking to draw blood.

Alternative forms

• blood-thirsty
• bloudthirsty, bloud-thirsty (obsolete)

Derived terms

Translations