unforgiving
unforgiving — adjective
1. describes a person who is not willing to let go of their anger or resentment whe
describes a person who is not willing to let go of their anger or resentment when someone has done something wrong, and who will not accept an apology or make peace.
Salma's grandfather was an unforgiving man who never spoke to his brother after their argument.
attributive: unforgiving + noun (person)
The old teacher had an unforgiving attitude toward students who handed in late work.
unforgiving + attitude toward someone
After the betrayal, Théo remained unforgiving and refused to hear Tomás's explanation.
Lisa found her coworker's unforgiving nature exhausting and stopped trying to make amends.
- vengeful
implies an active desire to punish or get even, stronger than unforgiving
- ruthless
broader — describes a general lack of compassion, not specifically about forgiveness
- implacable
more formal; describes anger or opposition that cannot be softened by any appeal
- spiteful
focuses on petty, mean-spirited actions rather than holding a grudge
文法句型
be unforgiving
unforgiving + noun (person)
unforgiving toward/to + person
用法筆記
Frequently describes a lasting personality trait rather than a momentary feeling. Common in attributive position before a noun (an unforgiving person) or predicatively after remain, be, or become.
常見錯誤
2. describes a place, situation, or condition that is extremely harsh, demanding, o
describes a place, situation, or condition that is extremely harsh, demanding, or dangerous, leaving no room for mistakes or weakness.
The desert is an unforgiving place where water is scarce and temperatures are extreme.
unforgiving place — environment noun collocation
Hyun learned that the construction industry is unforgiving of even small safety mistakes.
unforgiving of + [mistakes] — pattern for intolerance
The mountainous terrain was unforgiving, with steep cliffs and sudden storms that caught hikers off guard.
Critics described the competition as an unforgiving environment where only the strongest survive.
- relentless
suggests continuous pressure or harshness without pause
- harsh
simpler and more common; less literary than unforgiving
- merciless
stronger, often personifies the environment as actively cruel
- demanding
softer — emphasizes high standards rather than danger
文法句型
unforgiving + noun (environment/place)
be unforgiving
unforgiving of + mistake/weakness
用法筆記
Commonly modifies nouns describing physical environments (terrain, desert, climate, landscape) or demanding situations (industry, market, schedule, competition). The emphasis is on the lack of allowance for error or weakness.
常見錯誤
3. describes a piece of clothing or fabric that tends to show every detail of a per
describes a piece of clothing or fabric that tends to show every detail of a person's body shape in a way the wearer finds unpleasant or embarrassing.
Tanvi avoided the white dress because the unforgiving fabric showed every curve of her body.
unforgiving fabric — clothing noun collocation
Silk can be an unforgiving material for formal wear if you want a smooth silhouette.
unforgiving material — fashion context
Mira tried on the sweater but found the thin knit too unforgiving for her taste.
Christopher complained that the tight jeans were unforgiving and showed every lump and bump.
- unflattering
more common in everyday fashion talk; milder than unforgiving
- revealing
focuses on showing skin or shape; not necessarily negative
- flattering
the direct opposite — clothing that makes the wearer look good
- forgiving
used in fashion — a 'forgiving fabric' hides body flaws
文法句型
unforgiving + noun (fabric/clothing)
be unforgiving