Etymology
Origin of meanness
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.
But Mr. Cornyn has no gift for meanness.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 27, 2026
Rourke later apologised to Siwa, and told the housemates he "didn't say it out of meanness".
From BBC • Apr. 9, 2025
But watch those eyes widen when suddenly there’s a test of guts and his meanness flares again.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 28, 2025
To the millions who greedily gobbled up scuttlebutt about her legendary meanness over the years, this is far from a news flash.
From Salon • Oct. 30, 2024
He does not let himself be angered by meanness.
From "Taste of Salt: A Story of Modern Haiti" by Frances Temple
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.