unkindliness
Lack of warmth
Unkindliness is the quality of being unkind—a disposition toward harshness, coldness, or lack of compassion.
The word is somewhat literary and old-fashioned: There was an unkindliness in her manner that kept people at a distance.
It describes not a single act but a general tendency toward unfriendliness or cruelty.
Spiteful, unkind disposition
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- spitePetty malicious intent
- viciousnessExtreme cruelty or spite
- brutalitySavage, merciless behavior
heartlessness · mercilessness · pitilessness · sadism · malevolence · inhumanity · ruthlessness · hard-heartedness
Low temperature state
- callousnessCruel emotional indifference
- insensitivityLack of emotional awareness
- brusquenessAbrupt, rude directness
- gruffnessHarsh, rough manner
severity · sternness · curtness · sharpness · abrasiveness · roughness · bluntness · tactlessness
Active opposition or hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- unfriendlinessUnwelcoming disposition toward others
- ill-willHostile or unkind feeling
rancor · bitterness · resentment · acrimony · malignity · aggression · belligerence · combativeness
Absence of worry
- apathyAbsence of feeling
- disregardWillful lack of attention
- neglectFailure to provide care
- dismissivenessAttitude of casual disregard
unresponsiveness · inattention · heedlessness · carelessness · disinterest · nonchalance · impassivity · obliviousness
Emotional unavailability, standoffishness
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- distanceSpace between two points
- remotenessQuality of being faraway
- standoffishnessUnfriendly reserve toward others
frostiness · iciness · frigidity · chilliness · inhospitableness · unapproachability · unsociability · reserve
meanness
Spiteful, unkind disposition
- maliceIntent to cause harm
- spitePetty malicious intent
- viciousnessExtreme cruelty or spite
brutality · heartlessness · mercilessness · pitilessness · sadism · malevolence · inhumanity · ruthlessness · hard-heartedness · cold-bloodedness
coldness
Low temperature state
- callousnessCruel emotional indifference
- insensitivityLack of emotional awareness
- brusquenessAbrupt, rude directness
gruffness · severity · sternness · curtness · sharpness · abrasiveness · roughness · bluntness · tactlessness · inconsideration
antagonism
Active opposition or hostility
- enmityBitter, lasting ill will
- animosityActive, bitter hostility
- unfriendlinessUnwelcoming disposition toward others
ill-will · rancor · bitterness · resentment · acrimony · malignity · aggression · belligerence · combativeness · contentiousness
unconcern
Absence of worry
dismissiveness · unresponsiveness · inattention · heedlessness · carelessness · disinterest · nonchalance · impassivity · obliviousness · unmindfulness
aloofness
Emotional unavailability, standoffishness
- detachmentSeparation or emotional uninvolvement
- distanceSpace between two points
- remotenessQuality of being faraway
standoffishness · frostiness · iciness · frigidity · chilliness · inhospitableness · unapproachability · unsociability · reserve · withdrawal
unkindlinesskindness
Considerate, caring disposition
kindliness · kindheartedness · benevolence · benignity · warmth
kind, kindly, kindness, unkind, unkindly, kindred, kindest, kinder, kindliness