as in cruel
feeling or showing a desire to cause harm or pain
a mean-spirited person He wrote a mean-spirited book review.
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of mean-spirited
While most are supportive, a fair number are critical, even mean-spirited.
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Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 16 June 2023
Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 16 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean-spirited
Adjective
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This soaring exploration of generational trauma starts with Star, a survivor of the 1864 Sand Creek Massacre, who’s forced to speak English and practice Christianity by the man who goes on to found the notoriously cruel Carlisle Indian Industrial School.Lizz Schumer, People.com, 5 Nov. 2024
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But at times, there’s a defensive, slightly cruel streak to his patter that can eclipse his better angels (of which there are many) and test the goodwill of those around him.Gary Goldstein, Los Angeles Times, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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That forces him to descend the 8,000-foot-and-higher safety zone of the Rocky Mountains, and into the lower-elevation danger zone where vicious monsters roam free.John Wenzel, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
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Scott, the old pro, knows how to give these scenes a vicious vitality that overcomes any thoughts about how the Romans supposedly got live sharks in the water.Alison Willmore, Vulture, 11 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The report adds to other examples of hateful rhetoric spreading after Trump’s victory.Angela Yang, NBC News, 12 Nov. 2024
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While Reddit's unfiltered nature made moderating hateful comments almost impossible, both were grateful to have shared the moment.David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Good post for a mid- to late-November afternoon: 70 to 100 yards back in timber and along the thickest, nastiest ditch that leads out to crops. 59) Don’t waste precious rut-hunting time.Michael Hanback, Outdoor Life, 7 Nov. 2024
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Reason for Ranking: Yet another solid (and prescient) premise that’s spoiled by a nasty streak and curious jokes about, uh, Abraham Lincoln hitting on Homer.Joshua Kurp, Vulture, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Playing the 81-year-old president as aghast, confused, and inarticulate could easily amount to an unkind impersonation, but in Carvey’s masterful hands, there is zero heightening — only dead-on accuracy.Joe Berkowitz, Vulture, 29 Sep. 2024
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Interacting with family that hurt him in the past is likely triggering, but some of his behavior goes beyond self-protective and has become unkind.R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 15 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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His loutish gimmick of the week is an obnoxious get-ready-with-me tutorial that the rest of his Chamber mates, unfortunately, can’t scroll past.Emma Sharpe, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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But not the party atmosphere of today, with some people drinking too much and some obnoxious people ruining it for the majority.Houston Mitchell, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Share [Findings] Unaffiliated voters are growing more spiteful toward both Democrats and Republicans.Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
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But legitimate criticism has often been lost in spiteful lunacy.Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 10 Oct. 2024
Adjective
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Critics have affixed to his output any number of adjectives meant to communicate its basic darkness: acerbic, malicious, cruel, contemptuous.Brandon Sanchez, Vulture, 25 Oct. 2024
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The rocket lifted away slowly, as though in contemptuous defiance of physics.David W. Brown, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near mean-spirited
Cite this Entry
“Mean-spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean-spirited. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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