mean-spirited
Small and unkind
Mean-spirited describes behavior or attitudes marked by pettiness, unkindness, or a desire to cause others distress.
A mean-spirited remark aims to wound rather than criticize constructively.
The term suggests smallness of character—someone who takes pleasure in others' misfortune or withholds generosity out of spite: It was mean-spirited to mock her accent.
Wanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- nastyDeeply unpleasant or spiteful
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
wicked · hateful · venomous · poisonous · toxic · harmful · hurtful · cutting
Feeling lingering ill will
- acrimoniousBitterly antagonistic in tone
- rancorousMarked by bitter resentment
- begrudgingReluctantly allowing or giving
- grudgingReluctant, resentful in giving
envious · jealous · embittered · sour · jaundiced · cynical · disillusioned · disenchanted
Lacking pity or mercy
- callousCruelly insensitive to others
- brutalSavagely harsh or severe
- mercilessShowing no clemency
- pitilessLacking any compassion
ruthless · vicious · savage · cold-blooded · unfeeling · unsympathetic · uncaring · harsh
Actively opposed or hostile
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- confrontationalInclined toward hostile encounters
pugnacious · quarrelsome · contentious · unfriendly · unwelcoming · ill-tempered · surly · churlish
spiteful
Wanting to hurt others
- vindictiveSeeking harm from resentment
- malevolentHarboring ill will
- nastyDeeply unpleasant or spiteful
vicious · wicked · hateful · venomous · poisonous · toxic · harmful · hurtful · cutting · scheming
resentful
Feeling lingering ill will
- acrimoniousBitterly antagonistic in tone
- rancorousMarked by bitter resentment
- begrudgingReluctantly allowing or giving
grudging · envious · jealous · embittered · sour · jaundiced · cynical · disillusioned · disenchanted · scornful
heartless
Lacking pity or mercy
pitiless · ruthless · vicious · savage · cold-blooded · unfeeling · unsympathetic · uncaring · harsh · inhumane
antagonistic
Actively opposed or hostile
- aggressiveHostile and confrontational
- belligerentHostile and eager to clash
- combativeInclined toward conflict
confrontational · pugnacious · quarrelsome · contentious · unfriendly · unwelcoming · ill-tempered · surly · churlish · ornery
- feedbackcomment, comments, constructive, complaint, reviews
- rudenessrude, discourtesy, impolite, rudeness, disrespect
- intolerantbigoted, biased, prejudiced, discriminatory, intolerant
mean-spiritedkind-hearted
Having a gentle, caring nature
benevolent · kindhearted · kind · good-natured · magnanimous
mean-spiritedgenerous
Willing to give freely
magnanimous · openhanded · big-hearted · bountiful · munificent
mean, means, spirit, meaning, spirited, spiritual, meaningful, meantime, meanness