mean-spiritedness

noun

as in animosity

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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-spiritedness Every day this White House offers up a fresh batch of lawlessness and recklessness and mean-spiritedness and just plain craziness. — Halle Troadec, ABC News, 2 Nov. 2025 There’s a weird mean-spiritedness amongst young male losers that is harming them. — Jesse David Fox, Vulture, 24 Oct. 2025 There was a mean-spiritedness that the white COs up in the mountains had for us that the Black and brown ones who guarded us in Sing Sing did not. — John J. Lennon september 24, Literary Hub, 24 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean-spiritedness
  1. animosity
  2. meanness
  3. antagonism
  4. hostility
  5. malice
  6. spite
  7. rancor
  8. enmity
Noun
  • There’s no animosity between Mahomes and Kelce about the award, but this being a Nickelodeon show, there will be slime.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 8 Oct. 2026
  • But as much of Washington scrambles to get its arms around emerging AI risks, elsewhere in the country, opposition to data centers does not necessarily indicate animosity toward AI.
    — Justin Papp, CNBC, 23 Sep. 2026
Definition of animosity
Noun
  • Don’t give in to that meanness, and that false belief in scarcity.
    — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Amid so much belabored meanness, meager appeals to conscience scan more like self-conscious obligation, easily subsumed by impotence.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of meanness
Noun
  • These are the reasons for antagonism to Mayor Levy, not hyper-partisanship.
    — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 14 Oct. 2026
  • And his antagonism toward the media has created a new layer of tension.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of antagonism
Noun
  • When a quarrel over an inheritance revives old hostilities, their relationship comes under pressure from greed and treachery in a conflict not of their making.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Grynkewich's remarks had followed a tense weekend between Russia and Ukraine, with Moscow launching fresh strikes against Ukrainian energy infrastructure despite diplomatic efforts to reduce hostilities.
    — Emma Bussey, FOXNews.com, 13 Oct. 2026
Definition of hostility
Noun
  • In October, a Newton County grand jury indicted 43-year-old Taiesha Wilson on charges of malice murder, murder, concealing the death of another, identity theft, and more.
    — Dan Raby, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Kingston Bradley of Smyrna, Georgia, was arrested and charged with concealing the death of another and malice murder in connection with Mosley’s death.
    — Matt Lavietes, NBC news, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of malice
Noun
  • How much of your inspiration and motivation actually comes from spite?
    — Sam Macdonald, Scientific American, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Mikey Madison is excellent as a whistleblower driven by love, not spite.
    — Jordan Moreau, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of spite
Noun
  • But the themes that motivate the party faithful may not sit well with independents, who tend to recoil against partisan rancor.
    — Julio Borquez, The Conversation, 8 Oct. 2026
  • Still, the perception that the food supply is riskier has been enough to ignite political rancor.
    — Stephanie Armour, CBS News, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of rancor
Noun
  • The enmity between the sides grew after the Irish players wore black armbands and bowed their heads during the Israeli national anthem before the first match.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 5 Oct. 2026
  • The months-long battle was bitter and hard fought and enmity within the industry has yet to subside.
    — Stacy Perman, Los Angeles Times, 28 Sep. 2026
Definition of enmity

Browse Nearby Words

mean-spirited
mean-spiritedness
meant
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Cite this Entry

“Mean-spiritedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean-spiritedness. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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