a. [ Mercy + -ful. ] 1. Full of mercy; having or exercising mercy; disposed to pity and spare offenders; unwilling to punish. Opposite of merciless. [ 1913 Webster ]
The Lord, the Lord God, merciful and gracious. Ex. xxxiv. 6. [ 1913 Webster ]
Be merciful, great duke, to men of mold. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]
2. Unwilling to give pain; compassionate. [ 1913 Webster ]
A merciful man will be merciful to his beast. Old Proverb. [ 1913 Webster ]
Syn. -- Compassionate; tender; humane; gracious; kind; mild; clement; benignant. [ 1913 Webster ]
-- Mer"ci*ful*ly, adv. -- Mer"ci*ful*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]