: treating people with kindness and forgiveness : not cruel or harsh : having or showing mercy. : giving relief from suffering. See the full definition for merciful in the English Language Learners Dictionary.

What does it mean when someone is sympathetic?

: feeling or showing concern about someone who is in a bad situation : having or showing feelings of sympathy. : having or showing support for or approval of something.

Who is a merciful person?

Use the adjective merciful to describe someone who has compassion for other people, especially when he is in a position to punish them or treat them harshly. ... Forgiving someone or relieving a person's pain are both merciful acts.