unkind

[uhn-kahynd]

adjective

unkinder, unkindest 

1. lacking in kindness or mercy; severe.

unkind

/ ʌnˈkaɪnd /

adjective

1. lacking kindness; unsympathetic or cruel

2. archaic

   1. (of weather) unpleasant

   2. (of soil) hard to cultivate

Other Word Forms

• unkindness noun
• unkindly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of unkind¹

Middle English word dating back to 1200–50; un- ¹, kind ¹

Example Sentences

He also struggled in The Hundred, where it was evident he was getting big send-offs from the opposition and receiving banter about being England's 'Golden Boy', which was unkind.

From BBC

To say that today’s politics is Orwellian is being unkind to Orwell.

From Salon

For prosecutors who had tried to scuttle a winnable case against a serial killer, the notoriety was unkind.

From Los Angeles Times

Without being unkind, Bashir is a one-dimensional cricketer, Dawson is an all-rounder.

From BBC

The consultant said she was told the tone of the disagreement was "aggressive" and "unkind".

From BBC

Related Words

• cruel 
• harsh 
• hateful 
• insensitive 
• malicious 
• nasty 
• spiteful 
• uncaring www.thesaurus.com
• unfriendly