adjective
B2
Upper-Intermediate
unkind
uhn-KYND
Unkind (adjective) means lacking kindness; harsh, cruel, or thoughtless toward others. Example: “It was unkind of him to laugh at her mistake.”
adjective
1
Lacking kindness; harsh, cruel, or thoughtless toward others.
"In the strictness with which he holds this view he belongs in the company of the novelists I have cited, except that he is unkinder and less charitable than they are."
— Edward W. Said, On Lost Causes (2000)
"It was unkind of him to laugh at her mistake."
"The reviews were unkind about the restaurant's service."
"We had to learn that to refuse such gifts, which represented serious sacrifice, was more unkind than to accept them."
— Laurence William Wylie, Village in the Vaucluse (1974)
How to use unkind
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishNot nice to people; harsh or hurtful in behavior or words.
Common pairings
unkind words
unkind remark
it was unkind
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Word forms
- Comparative
- unkinder, more unkind
- Superlative
- unkindest, most unkind
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
It was _____ of him to laugh at her mistake.
Etymology
From Middle English unkynde, from "un-" + "kind."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “unkind” mean?
The word “unkind” means lacking kindness; harsh, cruel, or thoughtless toward others. In plain terms, not nice to people; harsh or hurtful in behavior or words.
How do you pronounce “unkind”?
“Unkind” is pronounced uhn-KYND (/ʌnˈkaɪnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “unkind” in a sentence?
Here is “unkind” used in a sentence: “It was unkind of him to laugh at her mistake.”
What part of speech is “unkind”?
“Unkind” is an adjective.
Where does the word “unkind” come from?
The word “unkind” comes from Middle English. From Middle English unkynde, from "un-" + "kind.".
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