Etymology
Origin of meanness
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
“Railroaded” evokes the meanness of New York in those years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 10, 2026
Rourke later apologised to Siwa, and told the housemates he "didn't say it out of meanness".
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2025
To the millions who greedily gobbled up scuttlebutt about her legendary meanness over the years, this is far from a news flash.
From Salon ● Oct. 30, 2024
In “Seinfeld,” the four leads stand trial for their meanness and are sentenced to a year in jail together because they were caught mocking another person.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 8, 2024
Zara had said and done a bunch of things that made me furious, but to be honest, I couldn’t remember any actual meanness.
From "Maybe He Just Likes You" by Barbara Dee
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
