If you describe someone as unforgiving, you mean that they are unwilling to forgive other people.
[formal]
He was an unforgiving man who never forgot a slight.
He finds human foibles endearing, but is unforgiving of pretension. [+ of]
2. adjective
If you describe a situation or activity as unforgiving, you mean that it causes a lot of people to experience great difficulty or failure, even people who deserve to succeed.
Business is a competitive activity. It is very fierce and very unforgiving.
unforgiving in British English
(ˌʌnfəˈɡɪvɪŋ)
adjective
1.
not willing to forgive; unmerciful
2.
(of a machine, system, etc) allowing little or no opportunity for mistakes to be corrected
3.
harsh and unremitting
an unforgiving and desolate landscape
unforgiving in American English
(ˌʌnfərˈgɪvɪŋ)
adjective
not willing or not able to forgive
Derived forms
unforgivingness (ˌunforˈgivingness)
noun
Examples of 'unforgiving' in a sentence
unforgiving
Separation from the civilisation at the coast, intense droughts and the unforgiving land bred determined survivors.
Tony Juniper SPIX'S MACAW: THE RACE TO SAVE THE WORLD'S RAREST BIRD (2002)
Wasn't he the very opposite of an avenging, unforgiving spirit?
Howatch, Susan ABSOLUTE TRUTHS (2002)
The policewoman recognized the olive branch, but her expression remained unforgiving.
West, Charles STAGE FRIGHT (2002)
The investigator's immediate impression was that he was a hard, unforgiving man.