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unkind

adjective

Definition of unkindnext
as in rude
lacking in kindness, helpfulness, sympathy, etc. an unkind remark unkind treatment It was unkind of you not to invite her.

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of unkind The market is now doing what project-finance investors are meant to do, testing the cash flow and asking who is left holding the risk if the day of refinancing is unkind. — Dara-Abasi Ita, Forbes.com, 18 June 2026 The action starts at Long Island’s historically unkind Shinnecock Hills on Thursday. — Tyler Estep, AJC.com, 15 June 2026 The mother-in-law tends to be very negative, and is known to say unkind things about whoever isn’t present. — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 10 June 2026 Hating on conservatives is fine, but saying something unkind about progressive ideology, individuals or groups is another matter altogether. — Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 10 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for unkind
Recent Examples of Synonyms for unkind
  1. rude
  2. unpleasant
  3. unfavorable
  4. inconsiderate
  5. discourteous
  6. impolite
Adjective
  • For instance, your colleagues may be very agreeable and kind to their boss but rude to their more junior colleagues, or the cafeteria waiter.
    — Tomas Chamorro-Premuzic, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Totally ignoring the humanity of both worker and customer is rude, and yet both parties are interested in getting on with whatever the transaction is.
    — Judith Martin, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of rude
Adjective
  • Self-interrogation, of course, is often unpleasant and is not a prescription that is likely to sell many books.
    — Meghan O’Gieblyn, New Yorker, 14 Sep. 2026
  • There was a lot of work on the medical cases to make the investigations complex and realistic, but there was also an entry point built around a strong, funny, unpleasant character, completely at odds with her return to her roots.
    — Roberto Prieto, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
Definition of unpleasant
Adjective
  • The Raiders caught Johnson in unfavorable mismatches a few times and exploited it.
    — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026
  • Good opportunities should create attractive potential upside without placing the organization in a position where one unfavorable outcome becomes catastrophic.
    — Brian Ferdinand, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
Definition of unfavorable
Adjective
  • When Venus opposes Saturn on August 21, someone’s likely going to be fed up with someone else’s inconsiderate behavior.
    — Steph Koyfman, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026
  • For some workers, letting AI write a message to a coworker may seem like a harmless time-saving hack, while others view it as inconsiderate or rude.
    — Sophie Caldwell, CNBC, 15 July 2026
Definition of inconsiderate
Adjective
  • Some do this flippantly, but reader Robin suggested drivers who do this do not care and are flat-out discourteous.
    — Doug Turnbull, AJC.com, 11 Jan. 2026
  • In 2014, he was found to have been discourteous and used force.
    — Milena Malaver, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Definition of discourteous
Adjective
  • Joyful noise and other, impolite sounds radiated from the sets oscillating between the two sites.
    — Lauren Michele Jackson, New Yorker, 2 Sep. 2026
  • Simply hide the ninja figures and wait for your unsuspecting victim to walk by when out of nowhere, the motion activation lets loose a very impolite noise sure to have your kids rolling.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of impolite

Browse Nearby Words

unkept
unkind
unkindliness
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Unkind.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/unkind. Accessed 17 Sep. 2026.

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