Meanness

Pronunciation: /ˈminɪs/

Definitions of meanness

noun a quality of being unkind, malicious, or unfair

Example Sentences

A1 Her meanness towards her classmates made them upset.

A2 The meanness of his actions towards the animals shocked everyone.

B1 The boss's meanness towards his employees created a toxic work environment.

B2 The politician's meanness towards his opponents was evident in his harsh words.

C1 The meanness of the character in the novel revealed the darker side of human nature.

C2 The meanness of the dictator's regime knew no bounds, causing suffering to countless individuals.

Examples of meanness in a Sentence

formal Her meanness towards her subordinates was evident in the way she constantly criticized their work.

informal I can't stand her meanness when she refuses to share her notes with us.

slang His meanness really pisses me off, always trying to cheat us out of our money.

figurative The meanness of winter's icy grip seemed to seep into every corner of the town.

Grammatical Forms of meanness

• past tense: was mean
• plural: meannesses
• comparative: meaner
• superlative: meanest
• present tense: is mean
• future tense: will be mean
• perfect tense: has been mean
• continuous tense: is being mean
• singular: meanness
• positive degree: mean
• infinitive: to be mean
• gerund: being mean
• participle: mean

Origin and Evolution of meanness

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'meanness' originated from Middle English, derived from the word 'mene', meaning common or middle.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the meaning of 'meanness' evolved from referring to something common or middle to describing behavior that is unkind, stingy, or lacking generosity.