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
But watch those eyes widen when suddenly there’s a test of guts and his meanness flares again.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 28, 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
You know how I said meanness shows up in people’s faces?
From "Hello, Universe" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
