Heartless Meaning
/ˈhɑːt.lɪs/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjWithout feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring; cruel.
adjWithout a physical heart.
Sentence Examples
It is heartless of him to say so.
He is so heartless.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
None
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ boss fired the sick employee without any sympathy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was a ____ act to leave the poor kitten outside in the freezing cold all night long.
Word Origin & History
From Middle English hertles, herteles, from Old English heortlēas (“without courage; listless”), equivalent to heart + -less. Cognate with German herzlos.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The world is a dangerous, violent place […] and the only true refuge from this heartless world is the family."
— 1982 August 14, Michael Bronski, “If You Hated The Book You'll Loathe The Movie”, in Gay Community News, volume 10, number 5, page 11:
"It's safer to be heartless than mindless. The history of the world is the history of the triumph of the heartless over the mindless."
— 1986 January 23, Antony Jay, Jonathan Lynn, “The Smoke Screen”, in Yes, Prime Minister, season 1, episode 3, spoken by Humphrey Appleby (Nigel Hawthorne):
"Mr. Burns is similarly perfectly cast as a heartless capitalist willing to do anything for a quick buck, even if it means endangering the lives of those around him and Marge elegantly rounds out the main cast as a good, pure-hearted and overly indulgent woman who sees the big, good heart (literally and metaphorically) of a monstrous man-brute."
— 2012 April 29, Nathan Rabin, “TV: Review: THE SIMPSONS (CLASSIC): “Treehouse of Horror III” (season 4, episode 5; originally aired 10/29/1992)”, in The A.V. Club, archived from the original on 15 Aug 2012:
"Cecilia then, though almost heartless, resolved upon talking with Mr. Harrel himself […]."
— 1782, Frances Burney, Cecilia, II.iii.7:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The ____ boss fired the sick employee without any sympathy.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was a ____ act to leave the poor kitten outside in the freezing cold all night long.