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Synonyms

meanness

American  
[meen-nis] / ˈmin nɪs /

noun

  1. the state or quality of being mean.

  2. a mean act.

    to answer meannesses with forgiveness.

Etymology

Origin of meanness

First recorded in 1550–60; mean 2 + -ness

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.

But Mr. Cornyn has no gift for meanness.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026

“I think the way you ask the question, with the anger and the meanness, is terrible. You go back and learn how to be a reporter. No more questions from you.”

From Salon • Nov. 18, 2025

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

Unless it was somebody like Sula, who put Eva away out of meanness.

From "Sula" by Toni Morrison

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.