meanness

Everyday

1. Meanness is being unkind or nasty to others. tree →
2. Meanness is not wanting to share or spend money; being stingy. tree →

In the lessons

In stories and ethics lessons: a character's meanness to others. In the UK «mean» often means stingy, so meanness can be about money; in the USA it mostly means unkindness.

Examples

• The bully's meanness made the little ones cry. tree →
• Scrooge was famous for his meanness with money. tree →
• There was no meanness in her; she shared everything. tree →
• We talked about how meanness hurts feelings. tree →
• His meanness meant he never bought anyone a drink. tree →
• Kindness is the cure for meanness. tree →
• Many a time her poor husband regretted the day that he had first seen her, and often her meanness and shabby ways put him to shame. tree →

Note

Uncountable. Double n: mean + ness. From «mean» (unkind; UK also stingy). Do not confuse with «meaning» or «means» (a way, or money).