TAKE-NO-PRISONERS Synonyms: 113 Similar and Opposite Words

take-no-prisoners

adjective

ˈtāk-ˈnō-ˈpriz-(ə-)nərz

Definition of take-no-prisoners

as in ruthless

having or showing a lack of sympathy or tender feelings a theater critic with a take-no-prisoners approach to reviewing Broadway's latest offerings

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Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of take-no-prisoners And Childress got an Earnhardt descendant in Busch — a driver who some considered a villain for his take-no-prisoners style, a father, an all-time great who for the longest time couldn’t win the biggest race of them all. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 6 June 2026 But some specialists in legal ethics expressed doubts at the time that the additional pledge would affect courtroom behavior — the late Stanford Law professor Deborah Rhode said some lawyers simply conclude that a take-no-prisoners attitude would help their client. — Bob Egelko, San Francisco Chronicle, 16 Mar. 2026 All eight club tracks follow the same basic template, one cribbed from Midwestern producers like Boo Williams and Paul Johnson, as well as early, ravey Daft Punk and, in particular, the take-no-prisoners cutups of Germany’s Soundhack. — Philip Sherburne, Pitchfork, 25 June 2026 Continuing in his take-no-prisoners approach, Lane moved on from Chalamet to relate an anecdote, first told by his friend Jesse Tyler Ferguson on a podcast, in which Lane met Ferguson’s young son, who was duly dazzled by The Lion King star. — Greg Evans, Deadline, 12 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for take-no-prisoners

Recent Examples of Synonyms for take-no-prisoners

Adjective

Natural selection is usually ruthless about weeding out traits with no function.

— Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 2 July 2026
Supergirl builds to a final showdown with Krem of the Yellow Hills, the ruthless Brigands leader who murdered Ruthye’s family and poisoned Krypto early in the film.

— Lily Brown, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026

Definition of ruthless

Adjective

The poem that precedes it, the Iliad, is a cruel and beautiful work, the ultimate story of war; the Odyssey has its warlike passages, but its central energies seem almost commonplace beside the merciless fury of Achilles.

— David Denby, New Yorker, 21 June 2026
Humility is the posture; the standard is merciless.

— Luis E. Romero, Forbes.com, 19 June 2026

Definition of merciless

Browse Nearby Words

taken one's time

take-no-prisoners

taken out

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“Take-no-prisoners.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/take-no-prisoners. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of take-no-prisoners

adjective

Example Sentences

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