Definitions
from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.
- adjective Having or characterized by a malicious or petty spirit.
from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.
- adjective Having a
base ,nasty ,petty , ormalevolent disposition .
Etymologies
Sorry, no etymologies found.
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Examples
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The Nevada senator argued the Tea Party was driving what he described as "mean-spirited" proposed cuts to the federal budget, some version of which Congress must past by April 8 in order to avoid a government shutdown.
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Prisoners who are placed in segregation as a form of punishment could also be denied visits from family and friends under the federal anti-crime bill, a measure the Canadian Bar Association calls "mean-spirited" and counterproductive.
The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed KIM MACKRAEL 2011
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The votes will show the need for both sides to narrow the $50 billion gap between President Obama's latest offer and Republican cuts that Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid called "mean-spirited."
The Seattle Times 2011
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Prisoners who are placed in segregation as a form of punishment could also be denied visits from family and friends under the federal anti-crime bill, a measure the Canadian Bar Association calls "mean-spirited" and counterproductive.
The Globe and Mail - Home RSS feed KIM MACKRAEL 2011
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I had been a born-again Christian for less than six months, but I knew I never wanted to be like this self-righteous, mean-spirited pastor.
Recovering From Religious Abuse Jack Watts 2011
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Sara Palin will survive but much of the mean-spirited media will not! hsl
Latest ethics complaints should be 'a wake-up call,' Palin says 2009
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Before I said yes, I asked if he was serious, still suspecting some kind of mean-spirited bet.
Live and Let Love Andrea Buchanan 2011
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Sarah Palin will survive but much of the mean-spirited media will not! hhs
Latest ethics complaints should be 'a wake-up call,' Palin says 2009
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It's mean-spirited, racist and we think a court will enjoin it, said Mary Bauer, the legal director of the Southern Poverty Law Center.
HUFFPOST HILL - Gingrich Staffers Break Free Eliot Nelson 2011
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But it is pleasing (in a mean-spirited schadenfreude way) when people who were terrible in high school end up in boring, unrewarding jobs.
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