mean-spirited

adjective

Definition of mean-spiritednext
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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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 mean-spirited While most are supportive, a fair number are critical, even mean-spirited. — Barbara Vandenburgh, USA TODAY, 16 June 2023
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean-spirited
  1. cruel
  2. vicious
  3. hateful
  4. unkind
  5. nasty
  6. obnoxious
  7. spiteful
  8. contemptuous
Adjective
  • Having Sheridan actually be a cruel person was one of the key audience expectations the writer-director hoped to flip in the pursuit of laughs.
    — William Earl, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
  • But Triage does have a moment in which an ember of the old cruel optimism flickers.
    — Charles Finch, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cruel
Adjective
  • Your husband merely identified the obvious, most vicious enemy of the people in straightforward terms.
    — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Democrats have little trouble understanding that the right-wing infighting over Carlson is about whether the Republican tent, which already includes racists, nativists, and vicious Islamophobes, is also big enough to include anti-Semites.
    — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of vicious
Adjective
  • Yiannopoulos’ acerbic and at times hateful speech attracted the fury of students who argued his views should not be platformed.
    — Eduardo Cuevas, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Grabs a ketchup bottle and garnishes his face, before squirting mustard into his hateful, piggish eyes.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of hateful
Adjective
  • Criticism helpful to a stage performer during rehearsal may be unkind on opening night.
    — Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 17 Aug. 2026
  • According to Winfrey, 72, the duo’s entrance sparked some unkind reactions online.
    — Michelle Lee, PEOPLE, 21 July 2026
Definition of unkind
Adjective
  • Fatu hit a nasty flying Samoan Spike on D’Angelo and pinned him.
    — Ryan Gaydos OutKick, FOXNews.com, 31 Aug. 2026
  • Unglazed Ceramic And Stoneware A beautiful stoneware or ceramic dish can leave nasty scratches on your stovetop’s surface.
    — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of nasty
Adjective
  • Still, the constant death against even low-level grunt enemies, let alone fearsome bosses, is annoying and obnoxious.
    — Jordan Minor, PC Magazine, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Thank goodness Angie Nixon is not an aggressively obnoxious member of the DSA (Democratic Socialists of America).
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of obnoxious
Adjective
  • Trump won his spiteful cases against asylum seekers and Haitian and Syrian immigrants.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026
  • Everyone has an acid tongue and brims with spiteful resentment.
    — The Week US, TheWeek, 27 May 2026
Definition of spiteful
Adjective
  • The Larson campaign became openly contemptuous of Bronin at the May convention.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • The man didn’t catch Serena’s contemptuous expression, however, too busy peeling bills from a money clip and pressing them into his date’s hand.
    — Raven Brunner, PEOPLE, 30 June 2026
Definition of contemptuous

Browse Nearby Words

means
mean-spirited
mean-spiritedness
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Cite this Entry

“Mean-spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean-spirited. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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