ruthless

Universal Words adjective (disapproving) (of people or their behaviour) hard and cruel; determined to get what you want and not caring if you hurt other people: a ruthless dictator * The way she behaved towards him was utterly ruthless. * He has a ruthless determination to succeed. * We'll have to be ruthless if we want to make this company more efficient. ruthlessly adverb: I have to be ruthlessly honest with you. ruthlessness noun [U]