meanspirited
Americanadjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of meanspirited
Explanation
Anyone meanspirited is unkind, not particularly generous, or even deliberately rude. A meanspirited person might steal your place in line, or even kick you while you're down. It's meanspirited to crush someone's good mood with a nasty remark, and it's also meanspirited to eat your huge lunch (and refuse to share it) in front of a hungry classmate who's left his at home. Acting in an inconsiderate or careless way, particularly when you show a lack of generosity, will make you appear to be meanspirited.
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.
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 • May 10, 2024
District Judge James Boasberg acknowledged that the “defendants leveled harsh, meanspirited, and at times misleading attacks” against Vindman.
From Seattle Times • Nov. 8, 2022
But as tough as she is, Muneeba isn't meanspirited or undermining.
From Salon • Jun. 10, 2022
Wanda, you said earlier today that you don’t want the jokes to be meanspirited.
From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2022
They are but few and meanspirited that live in peace with all men.
From Little Journeys to the Homes of the Great - Volume 01 Little Journeys to the Homes of Good Men and Great by Hubbard, Elbert
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.
