meanness

noun

Definition of meannessnext
as in malice
the desire to cause pain for the satisfaction of doing harm nothing more than unprovoked meanness drove him to smash the child's toy

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 meanness The Very Online meanness, and attendant allegations of sexism and élitism, carries echoes of the rift between the Clintonites and the Bernie Bros; El-Sayed has talked openly of using a victory to shape the 2028 Presidential field. — Jon Allsop, New Yorker, 3 Aug. 2026 Sometimes the irony turns bitter and, with a typically Eastern European sensibility, highlights the paradoxes of institutions, as well as the madness and meanness born from the pursuit and preservation of power. — Zac Ntim, Deadline, 8 June 2026 After 1965, when African Americans’ right to vote was constitutionally recognized, the meanness continued. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 May 2026 The collective community is more important than the individual, and care trumps meanness. — Sarah Wang, PEOPLE, 16 May 2026 Trump’s petulance, meanness, and willingness to punish a religious institution for its Church’s moral witness is a warning to every faith community in America. — Stephen Underwood, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026 Would there be perpetual meanness and the absence of kindness toward each other as human beings? — Kevin Powell, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Mar. 2026 The result is a movie where the jokes are just mean, and the meanness isn’t funny, leading to a cynical denouement that’s been done many times before. — Katie Rife, IndieWire, 16 Mar. 2026 Scott inflicts Ohm’s nonchalant meanness with a piercingly perverse matter-of-factness that places the character as far away as possible from the realm of likeability. — Carlos Aguilar, Variety, 15 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for meanness
  1. malice
  2. cruelty
  3. venom
  4. hatred
Noun
  • Steele said authorities concluded the shooting did not meet the legal standard for a murder charge because the evidence did not support a finding of malice or premeditation.
    — Thao Nguyen, USA Today, 2 Sep. 2026
  • As Musashi clears away the malice, the locals come out of hiding, and more of Kyoto becomes available to explore.
    — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of malice
Noun
  • The bureau will additionally consider applicants who have engaged in bestiality or animal cruelty as long as the incidents occurred before the applicant was 18 years old, the sources said, according to CBS News.
    — Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 30 Aug. 2026
  • The Looney Tunes animation–live action hybrid film is an inspired David-and-Goliath tale about the overreach and cruelty of corporations in the modern age, and its journey to release is a real-life corollary.
    — Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of cruelty
Noun
  • Deputies tried to keep the man alert and clam to help avoid the venom's spread before medical personnel arrived, the Facebook post stated.
    — Christian Cervantes, AZCentral.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Veterinarians determined that the snake's venom poisoned Samba, prompting them to give her antivenin.
    — Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of venom
Noun
  • His hatred of the Islamic State group appears genuine, and American cooperation with Damascus against the terrorist network will benefit the Syrians who suffered most under its rule.
    — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026
  • Yet Christ Jesus consistently refused to let fear, hatred, or sin define his view of anyone’s identity.
    — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of hatred

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meanly
meanness
means
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Cite this Entry

“Meanness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/meanness. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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