Mer"ci*ful (?), a. [Mercy + - ful.] 1. Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish.
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious.
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold.
2. Unwilling to give pain; compassionate.
A merciful man will be merciful to his beast.
Syn. -- Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind; mild; clement; benignant.
-- Mer"ci*ful*ly, adv. -- Mer"ci*ful*ness, n.