# merciful

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈmɜːsɪfl̩/ · frequency rank #20,425

## Definitions
1. Showing mercy.

## Etymology
From Middle English merciful, mercyful, equivalent to mercy + -ful. Displaced native Old English mildheort.

## Easily confused with
- **mercifully** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/merciful-vs-mercifully)

## Common misspellings (12)
`emrciful`, `mecriful`, `mercciful`, `mercfiul`, `mercifful`, `merciflu`, `mercifull`, `merciufl`, `mericful`, `merrciful`, `mmerciful`, `mreciful`

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