Word Adjective
unkind
adj.
B1 Intermediate US /ənˈkaɪnd/ UK /ʌnkˈaɪnd/ un·kind
Definition
adj.not kind or helpful. You use this to describe someone who is mean or something that is not fair.
adj.lacking kindness, compassion, or helpfulness; harsh or cruel. Often used to describe people, actions, or words that cause unnecessary distress.
Examples
“He made an unkind comment about my new haircut.”
“The manager's unkind treatment of the staff led to several people leaving the company.”
“While the criticism was technically accurate, the delivery was so unkind that it felt more like a personal attack than a professional suggestion for improvement.”
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English unkynde; equivalent to un- + kind.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Middle English unkynde
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated