meanspirited

American  

[meen-spir-i-tid] / ˈminˈspɪr ɪ tɪd /

adjective

1. petty; small-minded; ungenerous.

   a meanspirited man, unwilling to forgive.

---

Other Word Forms

• meanspiritedly adverb
• meanspiritedness noun

Etymology

Origin of meanspirited

First recorded in 1685–95; mean ² + spirited

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

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

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

From New York Times • Apr. 27, 2023

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

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