Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Lacking kindness or consideration: Describes behavior, words, or actions that are not friendly, gentle, or sympathetic. It implies a lack of warmth, compassion, or goodwill.
   • Harsh, cruel, or mean: Can describe actions or remarks that cause hurt, distress, or suffering to others, whether intentionally or through thoughtlessness.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • It was unkind of him to ignore her question. (His action showed a lack of consideration.)
  • She regretted her unkind words as soon as she said them. (Her words were hurtful and not gentle.)
  • The critic's review was unnecessarily unkind. (The review was harsh and mean-spirited.)

Advanced Usage

• "The unkindest cut of all": A literary idiom meaning the worst or most hurtful betrayal or insult, often from someone close. This phrase originates from Shakespeare's .
  • Forgetting my birthday felt like the unkindest cut of all. (It was the most hurtful act, implying deep betrayal.)

Variants and Related Words

• Unkindly (adverb): In an unkind manner.
  • He spoke unkindly to the waiter. (He spoke to the waiter in a harsh or mean way.)
• Unkindness (noun): The quality or state of being unkind; an unkind act.
  • I was shocked by his unkindness. (I was shocked by his cruel behavior.)

Synonyms

• Cruel: Willfully causing pain or suffering.
• Mean: Spiteful or malicious.
• Harsh: Severe and unpleasantly rough.
• Thoughtless: Not showing consideration for others.
• Inconsiderate: Failing to consider the feelings of others.

Antonyms

• Kind: Having a friendly, generous, and considerate nature.
• Compassionate: Feeling or showing sympathy and concern for others.
• Benevolent: Well-meaning and kindly.
• Gentle: Mild and kindly in temperament or behavior.

Related Phrases

• To be unkind to someone: To treat someone without kindness.
  • You should never be unkind to animals. (You should never treat animals cruelly.)
• An unkind remark/comment: A statement that is hurtful or critical.
  • She made an unkind remark about his appearance. (She said something mean about how he looked.)

Adjective

1. deficient in humane and kindly feelings
2. lacking kindness
   • a thoughtless and unkind remark
   • the unkindest cut of all