mercies

1. leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justiceExamples: "he threw himself on the mercy of the court"Synonyms: clemency, mercifulness, mercy

2. a disposition to be kind and forgivingExamples: "in those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband"Synonyms: mercifulness, mercyAntonyms: mercilessness

3. the feeling that motivates compassionSynonyms: mercifulness, mercy

4. something for which to be thankfulExamples: "it was a mercy we got out alive"Synonyms: mercy

5. alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressedExamples: "distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy"Synonyms: mercy