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1. Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice
   "he threw himself on the mercy of the court"
   - clemency, mercifulness
    
2. A disposition to be kind and forgiving
   "in those days a wife had to depend on the mercy of her husband"
   - mercifulness
    
3. The feeling that motivates compassion
   - mercifulness
    
4. Something for which to be thankful
   "it was a mercy we got out alive"
    
5. Alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed
   "distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy"

Derived forms: mercies

Type of: blessing, boon, compassion, compassionateness, humaneness, lenience, leniency, ministration, relief, succor [US], succour [Brit, Cdn]

Encyclopedia: Mercy, Corporal and Spiritual Works of Mercy, Mercy, Mercy Mercy, Brothers of Our Lady of Mercy Mercy, Allier Mercy, Sisters of Mercy, Yonne Mercy, Severity Mercy, Mercy, Mercy! Live at 'The Club' Mercy, Saskatchewan