mean streak
Bent toward nastiness
A mean streak is a tendency toward cruelty or unkindness that shows up repeatedly in someone's behavior.
The word streak here suggests a vein running through a person's character—not their whole personality, but a persistent thread of nastiness that surfaces from time to time.
He's charming enough, but watch out for his mean streak.
Someone with a mean streak may be generally pleasant until provoked or given power over others.
Active opposition or hostility
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
rancor · acrimony · grudge · contempt · disdain · aversion · distrust · ill will
Cruel emotional indifference
- heartlessnessLack of compassion
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- cold-bloodednessUnfeeling, merciless nature
- pitilessnessTotal absence of compassion
mercilessness · ruthlessness · brutality · inhumanity · viciousness · hard-heartedness · harshness · barbarity
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- nastinessSpiteful or foul quality
- venomInjected animal poison
- ill willHostile or unfriendly feeling
hatred · wickedness · malignancy · cattiness · pettiness · scheming · treachery · underhanded
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
- humiliationLoss of dignity
tormenting · domineering · tyranny · browbeating · hazing · badgering · victimization · coercion
Intense, violent anger
- furyIntense violent anger
- wrathFierce, punishing anger
- outburstSudden emotional release
- tantrumUncontrolled display of frustration
volatility · explosiveness · short fuse · hot-headed · quick-tempered · irritability · snapping · lashing out
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- vengefulnessCraving for retaliation
- spitefulnessMalicious desire to harm
- paybackRetaliation for wrongs
getting even · score-settling · retribution · unforgiving · relentless · punishing · tit-for-tat · vendetta
antagonism
Active opposition or hostility
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- bitternessSharp, unpleasant taste or feeling
resentment · rancor · acrimony · grudge · contempt · disdain · aversion · distrust · ill will · antipathy
callousness
Cruel emotional indifference
- heartlessnessLack of compassion
- sadismPleasure from inflicting pain
- cold-bloodednessUnfeeling, merciless nature
pitilessness · mercilessness · ruthlessness · brutality · inhumanity · viciousness · hard-heartedness · harshness · barbarity · unfeelingness
spite
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- nastinessSpiteful or foul quality
- venomInjected animal poison
ill will · hatred · wickedness · malignancy · cattiness · pettiness · scheming · treachery · underhanded · conniving
intimidation
Deliberate fear-inducing pressure
- harassmentAggressive, unwanted targeting
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- belittlingExpressing contempt or dismissiveness
humiliation · tormenting · domineering · tyranny · browbeating · hazing · badgering · victimization · coercion · oppression
rage
Intense, violent anger
tantrum · volatility · explosiveness · short fuse · hot-headed · quick-tempered · irritability · snapping · lashing out · flare-up
revenge
Punishing a wrongdoer
- retaliationPunitive response to injury
- vengefulnessCraving for retaliation
- spitefulnessMalicious desire to harm
payback · getting even · score-settling · retribution · unforgiving · relentless · punishing · tit-for-tat · vendetta
mean streakkind heart
Compassionate inner nature
heart of gold · gentle nature · sweet disposition · warmheartedness · big heart
mean streakgentle nature
Disposition of softness and care
sweet disposition · soft spot · tender heart · warm heart · gentle spirit
mean, streak, means, meant, meaning, meaningful, meaningless, meanly, meanness