# heartless

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈhɑːt.lɪs/ · frequency rank #18,850

## Definitions
1. Without feeling, emotion, or concern for others; uncaring; cruel.
2. Without a physical heart.
3. Listless, unenthusiastic.
4. Without courage; fearful, cowardly.

## Etymology
From Middle English hertles, herteles, from Old English heortlēas (“without courage; listless”), equivalent to heart + -less. Cognate with German herzlos.

## Easily confused with
- **harmless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/harmless-vs-heartless)
- **headless** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/headless-vs-heartless)

## Common misspellings (12)
`ehartless`, `haertless`, `hearltess`, `hearrtless`, `heartelss`, `heartles`, `heartlless`, `heartlses`, `hearttless`, `heatrless`, `heratless`, `hheartless`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/heartless