- Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of
provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate
treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency. - Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless;
sometimes, favor, beneficence. - Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity;
compassion; willingness to spare or to help. - A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or
favor.
Meaning of 'mercy' (Princeton's WordNet)
1 . mercy
[ n]
Meaning (1): - alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed
Example in sentence:
distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy
Meaning (2): - leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
Example in sentence:
he threw himself on the mercy of the court
Meaning (3): - a disposition to be kind and forgiving
Example in sentence:
in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband
Act of mercy Act of mercy— In personnel recovery, assistance rendered to evaders by an individual or elements of the local population who sympathize or empathize with the evaders’ cause or plight.