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

Lacking kindness; harsh, cruel, or thoughtless toward others.

"It was unkind of him to laugh at her mistake."

"The reviews were unkind about the restaurant's service."

How to use unkind

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishNot nice to people; harsh or hurtful in behavior or words.

Common pairings

unkind words unkind remark it was unkind

Word forms

unkinder comparative, more unkind comparative, unkindest superlative, most unkind superlative

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It was _____ of him to laugh at her mistake.

Etymology

From Middle English unkynde, from "un-" + "kind."

Origin: Middle English

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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B2 vocabulary words