meanspirited

American  

[meen-spir-i-tid] / ˈminˈspɪr ɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. petty; small-minded; ungenerous.

   a meanspirited man, unwilling to forgive.

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Other Word Forms

• meanspiritedly adverb
• meanspiritedness noun

Etymology

Origin of meanspirited

First recorded in 1685–95; mean ² + spirited

Example Sentences

He made the comments pushing back on his critics in response to a question about working in a world that seems meanspirited.

From Seattle Times

“This is a man!” the freaked-out Teamster shouts in “Dead Outlaw,” a mischievous but never meanspirited ghost story of a musical about McCurdy from the creators of “The Band’s Visit.”

From New York Times

After him came the reality-TV deluge — not all of it exploitative or meanspirited or cynical, but enough of it.

From New York Times

Despite its popularity and generally positive press, Sundance has often been the target of a certain amount of mockery, both good-natured and meanspirited.

From New York Times

“There is no room at the Met for artists who are so meanspirited in their thinking,” Gelb wrote in the letter.

From New York Times