mean-spirited

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Now he’s posting a social media message to the European team apologizing for the “rude and mean-spirited behavior” at the Cup.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 3, 2025

"I'd like to apologise for the rude and mean-spirited behaviour from our American crowd at Bethpage," said 76-year-old Watson.

From BBC • Sep. 29, 2025

Divorce makes for good drama in any era, but vintage society’s unspoken rules about shunning divorced women seem simultaneously silly, bizarre and mean-spirited.

From Salon • Sep. 14, 2025

Though mean-spirited, the jester Rigoletto — Verdi’s hapless, vengeful hunchback — wins our hearts as the outsider whom a heartless world so often abuses.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 3, 2025

“He speaks for a lot of men, Polly. I’m not saying there are many as mean-spirited as he is—thank heaven. But there are hundreds—thousands—who don’t believe in ‘book sailing.’

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham