Unkind Meaning
/ʌnˈkaɪnd/Definition, CEFR level B1, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
Listen pronunciation
Definition
adjLacking kindness, sympathy, benevolence, gratitude, or similar; cruel, harsh or unjust; ungrateful.
adjNot kind; contrary to nature or type; unnatural.
Sentence Examples
He thinks me unkind, too.
I think him unkind.
Some people were kind and others were unkind.
CEFR Practice Quiz
The bully's ____ words about the new student made everyone feel uncomfortable.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was very ____ of him to make fun of his friend's mistake, and he eventually apologized for his behavior today.
Word Origin & History
Inherited from Middle English unkynde; equivalent to un- + kind.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"Judge, O you gods, how dearly Caesar loved him!
This was the most unkindest cut of all;
For when the noble Caesar saw him stab,
Ingratitude, more strong than traitors’ arms,
Quite vanquish’d him: then burst his mighty heart;"
— 1599 (first performance), William Shakespeare, “The Tragedie of Iulius Cæsar”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene ii]:
"Yet was it ne’er my Fate, from thee to find
A Deed ungentle, or a Word unkind:
When others curst the Auth’ress of their Woe,
Thy Pity check’d my Sorrows in their Flow:"
— 1715–1720, Homer, translated by Alexander Pope, “Book 24”, in The Iliad of Homer, volume (please specify |volume=I to VI), London: […] W[illiam] Bowyer, for Bernard Lintott […], →OCLC, page 189, lines 968-971:
"Nobody meant to be unkind, but nobody put themselves out of their way to secure her comfort."
— 1814 May 9, [Jane Austen], chapter II, in Mansfield Park: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 24:
"Despite the bursitis, Dewey got in a good round of golf, though his cautious game inspired a reporter to make one of the week′s unkindest remarks: “He plays golf like he plays politics — straight down the middle, and short.”"
— 1950 July 3, “Politicians Without Politics”, in Life, page 16:
"Before the day I met you, life was so unkind / But you're the key to my peace of mind"
— 1967, Carole King, Gerry Goffin, “(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman”, performed by Aretha Franklin:
Explore More B1 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
The bully's ____ words about the new student made everyone feel uncomfortable.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
It was very ____ of him to make fun of his friend's mistake, and he eventually apologized for his behavior today.