as in cruel
feeling or showing a desire to cause harm or pain
a mean-spirited person He wrote a mean-spirited book review.
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of mean-spirited
While most are supportive, a fair number are critical, even mean-spirited.
—
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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Scheifele’s emotional and inspirational decision to play mere hours after his father’s unexpected death — to play for his dad, to play because of his dad — ended in cruel fashion, with Scheifele helpless in the penalty box.—
Mark Lazerus,
New York Times,
18 May 2025
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At first the program seems to be benign, but Hayakawa’s film steadily reveals how the policy thrives on the cruel capitalist tenet that people are disposable.—
Lovia Gyarkye,
HollywoodReporter,
17 May 2025
Adjective
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But even when locked in a tense, deadly standoff with the vicious Barbie, Moulin doesn’t break, and his courage and silence helps lead to the liberation of France, while leaving behind a new spirit of strength and resistance.—
Alex Ritman,
Variety,
10 May 2025
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Bone Tomahawk Year: 2015 Runtime: 2h 11m Director: S. Craig Zahler S. Craig Zahler has become one of the most divisive filmmakers working today after three vicious, brutal movies — Bone Tomahawk, Brawl in Cell Block 99, and Dragged Across Concrete.—
Brian Tallerico,
Vulture,
7 May 2025
Adjective
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Coupled with his hateful rhetoric, threats, lies, erratic policies, trampling of the Constitution and abnormal fascination with childish superlatives, tyrannical figures and Soviet-era style military parades, there’s much to be concerned about.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2025
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Despite the hateful rhetoric from left-wing Democrats fighting Trump’s efforts, Trump and his dream team won’t back down.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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The apps have a nasty trick that fools users into the initial download, and once on a phone, the damage is done.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
9 May 2025
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He’s been the spirit of the Panthers’ skillfully nasty style the previous two springs.—
Dave Hyde,
Sun Sentinel,
8 May 2025
Adjective
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Their fixture list to begin the campaign was also unkind.—
Andy Jones,
New York Times,
11 May 2025
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Your friend thought about, wrote and got caught writing something unkind about you.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But some less-expensive papers have an overwhelmingly obnoxious chemical smell.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 May 2025
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The Ford Ranger Raptor is big, beautifully obnoxious, comfortable, quick and carries many logs.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Adjective
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Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.—
Winston Cho,
The Hollywood Reporter,
17 Mar. 2025
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The more spiteful Drake could smell a world of buff, misogynistic grifters taking hold and made sure to set up shop where the audience would be.—
Craig Jenkins,
Vulture,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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This is a club that had failed to lift domestic silverware for 70 years and, for more than three-quarters of Neave’s life, had displayed an almost contemptuous attitude towards knockout competitions.—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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In contrast to contemptuous speech, treating people with dignity recognizes the inherent worth of every person and leaves space for holding people accountable by focusing on facts, actions, decisions and outcomes.—
Timothy Shriver,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean-spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean-spirited. Accessed 22 May. 2025.
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