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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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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As Wallace and Gromit investigate this mysterious thief, their paths cross with the cruel, trigger-happy Lord Victor Quartermaine (Ralph Fiennes), who has his own ambitions for the competition and Wallace’s love interest, Lady Tottington (Helena Bonham Carter).—
Travis Bean,
Forbes.com,
22 Aug. 2025
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Auggie isn’t a cruel, withholding bigot, but a stable and loving parent.—
Adam B. Vary,
Variety,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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That the show is a food-star factory is not exactly in the spirit of the bake-offs that inspired it, which were vicious routs among just-above-average home bakers, for almost no measurable reward.—
Ruby Tandoh,
New Yorker,
25 Aug. 2025
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The unique stipulation is the direct result of King's recent, vicious actions against his rival, Myles Borne.—
Andrew Ravens,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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YouTube videos posted from an account linked to the shooter show weapons with racist, homophobic, antisemitic and other hateful scrawlings on them.—
Jeanine Santucci,
USA Today,
30 Aug. 2025
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Tuesday’s alert is the latest in what’s been a string of hateful defacements this summer.—
Tess Kenny,
Chicago Tribune,
27 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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For most people who contract the virus, symptoms resemble those of a nasty cold and include a runny nose, aches, sore throat, congestion and maybe a fever.—
Beth Warren,
The Tennessean,
23 Aug. 2025
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The 37-year-old plays Emilia Harcourt, an agent from the lack ops squad, A.R.G.U.S., who immediately shows off her skills in the season 2 premiere episode beating up men three times her size in a nasty bar brawl.—
Colleen Kratofil,
People.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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The Dodger Stadium mound proved unkind to Darvish again Sunday in what ended up as a lost weekend for San Diego.—
Doug Padilla,
Oc Register,
17 Aug. 2025
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The first risk is asking friends and family to believe in you and cut a check, which can be a humbling and sometimes unkind process.—
Rolling Stone Culture Council,
Rolling Stone,
12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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This conflict has a way of sanitizing what at one time was unfathomable, converting obnoxious practices into acceptable behavior.—
Hussein Agha,
New Yorker,
22 Aug. 2025
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Among the concerns raised: public intoxication; rowdy or obnoxious behavior; overconsumption and underage drinking; litter, and the environmental impact of single-use plastic cups.—
Mary Divine,
Twin Cities,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
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There’s also a spiteful $1 billion cut from the budget of the nation’s capital, a conspicuously Democratic city.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
19 Mar. 2025
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Maybe the Iranians could propose that name change in spiteful retaliation.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
12 May 2025
Adjective
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The lawsuit plaintiffs certainly don’t see any benefit to being represented in any capacity by an organization whose leaders are openly contemptuous of their faith, their values and their culture.—
Jeff Rhodes,
Oc Register,
30 July 2025
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In dealing with this Administration, with its maximalist conception of executive authority and its contemptuous attitude toward the judiciary, the Justices are being played for fools.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Mean-spirited.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean-spirited. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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