Grace vs. Mercy — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on September 15, 2023
Grace is unmerited favor or goodwill, while mercy is compassionate forbearance shown to an offender. Both express kindness, but grace is giving what isn't deserved and mercy is withholding what is deserved.
Difference Between Grace and Mercy
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Key Differences
Grace and mercy are terms that often intertwine, especially in theological discussions, but they possess distinct nuances. Grace, in its essence, denotes a kindness or favor granted without it being earned or deserved. It's like receiving a gift or blessing you didn't work for.
Mercy, contrastingly, delves deeper into the realm of compassion. It represents the act of withholding a punishment or consequence that someone rightly deserves. When one shows mercy, they're essentially holding back from delivering a justified retribution.
In everyday scenarios, the distinction becomes clearer. Consider a person who did nothing special but was randomly selected to win a prize; this is grace. On the other hand, a student who failed an exam but was given another chance by the teacher displayed mercy.
Understanding the interplay between grace and mercy is pivotal, especially in religious contexts. While grace focuses on the free and unmerited gifts we receive, mercy hones in on the compassion that leads to us being spared from negative outcomes.
Their intrinsic connection is undeniable. Grace often leads to mercy, and mercy is frequently a result of grace. Yet, distinguishing between these acts of kindness reveals the depth and breadth of human and divine compassion.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Unmerited favor or goodwill.
Compassionate forbearance shown to an offender.
Deserving
Given even when not deserved.
Withholds what is deserved.
Nature
Gift or blessing without merit.
Withholding justified retribution.
Usage
"She received the role out of sheer grace."
"The judge showed him mercy."
Theological Context
God's free and unmerited favor to humanity.
God's compassion in withholding deserved punishment.
Compare with Definitions
Grace
Unmerited divine assistance given to humans.
By the grace of God, he recovered from his illness.
Mercy
Compassion shown to someone who has offended.
The captured soldier begged for mercy.
Grace
A short prayer before or after a meal.
They said grace before dinner.
Mercy
A blessing resulting from divine favor.
It's a mercy that the storm bypassed our town.
Grace
Seemingly effortless beauty or charm of movement, form, or proportion.
Mercy
Mercy (Middle English, from Anglo-French merci, from Medieval Latin merced-, merces, from Latin, "price paid, wages", from merc-, merxi "merchandise") is benevolence, forgiveness, and kindness in a variety of ethical, religious, social, and legal contexts. In the social and legal context, mercy may refer both to compassionate behavior on the part of those in power (e.g.
Grace
A characteristic or quality pleasing for its charm or refinement.
Mercy
Compassion or forgiveness shown towards someone whom it is within one's power to punish or harm
The boy was screaming and begging for mercy
The mercies of God
Grace
A sense of fitness or propriety.
Mercy
Used in expressions of surprise or fear
‘Mercy me!’ uttered Mrs Diggory
Grace
A disposition to be generous or helpful; goodwill.
Mercy
Compassionate treatment, especially of those under one's power; clemency.
Grace
Mercy; clemency.
Mercy
A disposition to be kind and forgiving
A heart full of mercy.
Grace
A favor rendered by one who need not do so; indulgence.
Mercy
Something for which to be thankful; a blessing
It was a mercy that no one was hurt.
Grace
A temporary immunity or exemption; a reprieve.
Mercy
Alleviation of distress; relief
Taking in the refugees was an act of mercy.
Grace
Graces Greek & Roman Mythology Three sister goddesses, known in Greek mythology as Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, who dispense charm and beauty.
Mercy
(uncountable) Relenting; forbearance to cause or allow harm to another.
She took mercy on him and quit embarrassing him.
Grace
Divine favor bestowed freely on people, as in granting redemption from sin.
Mercy
(uncountable) Forgiveness or compassion, especially toward those less fortunate.
Have mercy on the poor and assist them if you can.
Grace
The state of having received such favor.
Mercy
(uncountable) A tendency toward forgiveness, pity, or compassion.
Mercy is one of his many virtues.
Grace
An excellence or power granted by God.
Mercy
(countable) Instances of forbearance or forgiveness.
Psalms 40:11 Do not withhold Your tender mercies from me, O Lord
Grace
A short prayer of blessing or thanksgiving said before or after a meal.
Mercy
(countable) A blessing; something to be thankful for.
It was a mercy that we were not inside when the roof collapsed
Grace
Grace Used with His, Her, or Your as a title and form of address for a duke, duchess, or archbishop.
Mercy
(uncountable) A children's game in which two players stand opposite with hands grasped and twist each other's arms until one gives in.
Grace
(Music) An appoggiatura, trill, or other musical ornament in the music of 16th and 17th century England.
Mercy
To feel mercy
Grace
To honor or favor
You grace our table with your presence.
Mercy
To show mercy; to pardon or treat leniently because of mercy
Grace
To give beauty, elegance, or charm to.
Mercy
Expressing surprise or alarm.
Mercy! Look at the state of you!
Grace
(Music) To embellish with grace notes.
Mercy
Forbearance to inflict harm under circumstances of provocation, when one has the power to inflict it; compassionate treatment of an offender or adversary; clemency.
Examples of justice must be made for terror to some; examples of mercy for comfort to others.
Grace
Charming, pleasing qualities.
The Princess brought grace to an otherwise dull and boring party.
Mercy
Compassionate treatment of the unfortunate and helpless; sometimes, favor, beneficence.
Grace
(countable) A short prayer of thanks before or after a meal.
It has become less common to say grace before having dinner.
Mercy
Disposition to exercise compassion or favor; pity; compassion; willingness to spare or to help.
In whom mercy lacketh and is not founden.
Grace
In the games of patience or solitaire: a special move that is normally against the rules.
Mercy
A blessing regarded as a manifestation of compassion or favor.
The Father of mercies and the God of all comfort.
Grace
A grace note.
Mercy
Leniency and compassion shown toward offenders by a person or agency charged with administering justice;
He threw himself on the mercy of the court
Grace
(uncountable) Elegant movement; balance or poise.
The dancer moved with grace and strength.
Mercy
A disposition to be kind and forgiving;
In those days a wife had to depend on the mercifulness of her husband
Grace
An allowance of time granted to a debtor during which he or she is free of at least part of his normal obligations towards the creditor.
The repayment of the loan starts after a three-year grace.
Mercy
The feeling that motivates compassion
Grace
Free and undeserved favour, especially of God; unmerited divine assistance given to humans for their regeneration or sanctification, or for resisting sin.
Mercy
Something for which to be thankful;
It was a mercy we got out alive
Grace
An act or decree of the governing body of an English university.
Mercy
Alleviation of distress; showing great kindness toward the distressed;
Distributing food and clothing to the flood victims was an act of mercy
Grace
(transitive) To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
He graced the room with his presence.
He graced the room by simply being there.
His portrait graced a landing on the stairway.
Mercy
Withholding of deserved punishment.
Out of mercy, the teacher gave the student another chance.
Grace
(transitive) To dignify or raise by an act of favour; to honour.
Mercy
Compassionate treatment of the distressed.
The hospital provides mercy to all in need.
Grace
(transitive) To supply with heavenly grace.
Mercy
A fortunate event or situation.
By some mercy, they made it to the shelter just before the downpour.
Grace
To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
Grace
The exercise of love, kindness, mercy, favor; disposition to benefit or serve another; favor bestowed or privilege conferred.
To bow and sue for graceWith suppliant knee.
Grace
The divine favor toward man; the mercy of God, as distinguished from His justice; also, any benefits His mercy imparts; divine love or pardon; a state of acceptance with God; enjoyment of the divine favor.
And if by grace, then is it no more of works.
My grace is sufficicnt for thee.
Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound.
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand.
Grace
The prerogative of mercy execised by the executive, as pardon.
Grace
Fortune; luck; - used commonly with hard or sorry when it means misfortune.
Grace
Inherent excellence; any endowment or characteristic fitted to win favor or confer pleasure or benefit.
He is complete in feature and in mind.With all good grace to grace a gentleman.
I have formerly given the general character of Mr. Addison's style and manner as natural and unaffected, easy and polite, and full of those graces which a flowery imagination diffuses over writing.
Grace
Beauty, physical, intellectual, or moral; loveliness; commonly, easy elegance of manners; perfection of form.
Grace in women gains the affections sooner, and secures them longer, than any thing else.
I shall answer and thank you again For the gift and the grace of the gift.
Grace
Graceful and beautiful females, sister goddesses, represented by ancient writers as the attendants sometimes of Apollo but oftener of Venus. They were commonly mentioned as three in number; namely, Aglaia, Euphrosyne, and Thalia, and were regarded as the inspirers of the qualities which give attractiveness to wisdom, love, and social intercourse.
The Graces love to weave the rose.
The Loves delighted, and the Graces played.
Grace
The title of a duke, a duchess, or an archbishop, and formerly of the king of England.
How fares your Grace !
Grace
Thanks.
Yielding graces and thankings to their lord Melibeus.
Grace
A petition for grace; a blessing asked, or thanks rendered, before or after a meal.
Grace
Ornamental notes or short passages, either introduced by the performer, or indicated by the composer, in which case the notation signs are called grace notes, appeggiaturas, turns, etc.
Grace
An act, vote, or decree of the government of the institution; a degree or privilege conferred by such vote or decree.
Grace
A play designed to promote or display grace of motion. It consists in throwing a small hoop from one player to another, by means of two sticks in the hands of each. Called also grace hoop or hoops.
That day of grace fleets fast away.
The grace cup follows to his sovereign's health.
To [Queen Margaret, of Scotland] . . . we owe the custom of the grace drink, she having established it as a rule at her table, that whosoever staid till grace was said was rewarded with a bumper.
Content to do the profession some grace.
What might have been done with a good grace would at leastbe done with a bad grace.
Grace
To adorn; to decorate; to embellish and dignify.
Great Jove and Phoebus graced his noble line.
We are graced with wreaths of victory.
Grace
To dignify or raise by an act of favor; to honor.
He might, at his pleasure, grace or disgrace whom he wouldin court.
Grace
To supply with heavenly grace.
Grace
To add grace notes, cadenzas, etc., to.
Grace
(Bhristian theology) a state of sanctification by God; the state of one who under such divine influence;
The conception of grace developed alongside the conception of sin
It was debated whether saving grace could be obtained outside the membership of the church
The Virgin lived in a state of grace
Grace
Elegance and beauty of movement or expression
Grace
A sense of propriety and consideration for others
Grace
A disposition to kindness and compassion; benign good will;
The victor's grace in treating the vanquished
Grace
(Greek mythology) one of three sisters who were the givers of beauty and charm; a favorite subject for sculptors
Grace
A short prayer of thanks before a meal
Grace
(Christian theology) the free and unmerited favor or beneficence of God;
God's grace is manifested in the salvation of sinners
There but for the grace of God go I
Grace
Make more attractive by adding ornament, colour, etc.;
Decorate the room for the party
Beautify yourself for the special day
Grace
Be beautiful to look at;
Flowers adorned the tables everywhere
Grace
A disposition to kindness and compassion.
The grace of the queen was known throughout the land.
Grace
Elegance or beauty of form or manner.
Her dance was full of grace and poise.
Grace
A period officially allowed for payment.
You have a grace period of 30 days to settle the bill.
Common Curiosities
Can a person be deserving of mercy?
By definition, mercy is shown to someone who isn't necessarily deserving.
Are grace and mercy the same thing?
No, grace is unmerited favor, while mercy is withholding deserved punishment.
How do grace and mercy relate to forgiveness?
Forgiveness can be an act of mercy, and the strength to forgive can come from grace.
Is grace always spiritual?
No, grace can also refer to elegance or a period allowed for payment.
Can a person show grace to themselves?
Yes, one can treat themselves with kindness and compassion without merit.
Can someone show grace without mercy?
Yes, one can provide a favor without necessarily withholding punishment.
Why are grace and mercy important in Christianity?
They reflect God's love: grace shows His blessings, and mercy demonstrates His compassion.
Why is mercy often depicted with justice?
While justice delivers what's deserved, mercy is the act of withholding it.
How can one practice mercy in daily life?
By showing compassion and withholding negative judgments or actions.
Is grace something one can earn?
No, grace is given without it being earned or deserved.
How does grace affect one's character?
Experiencing or showing grace can lead to humility and gratitude.
Is mercy a sign of weakness?
No, showing mercy often requires strength and a deep sense of compassion.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
