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Meanly Meaning: Definition, Examples, and Translations

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meanly

[หˆmiหnli ]

Definition

Context #1 | Adverb

adverb

In an unkind or malicious manner.

Synonyms

cruelly, maliciously, unkindly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
meanly

Used when someone is being intentionally unpleasant or unkind, especially in a petty or selfish way. It can be used in everyday conversations to describe someone's behavior that is unnecessarily harsh or stingy.

  • She spoke meanly to her colleague during the meeting.
  • He meanly refused to share any of his snacks with the group.
unkindly

Used to describe behavior that is not friendly or kind. It is a milder term compared to 'cruelly' or 'maliciously' and is often used in everyday situations.

  • He replied unkindly when she asked for help.
  • The teacher spoke unkindly to the student who was struggling.
maliciously

Used when someone deliberately intends to harm, hurt, or damage someone or something. It often implies a deeper, more intentional malevolence. It is usually used in legal or serious contexts.

  • The hacker maliciously deleted all the data from the server.
  • She spread rumors about him maliciously, hoping to ruin his reputation.
cruelly

Used to describe actions or behaviors that cause severe pain or suffering. It is often used in serious or dramatic contexts to highlight the inhumane nature of someone's actions.

  • The villain in the movie treated the prisoners cruelly.
  • She cruelly mocked his stutter in front of everyone.

Examples of usage

  • He spoke meanly about his coworkers behind their backs.
  • She treated her employees meanly, without any compassion.
  • Don't act meanly towards others, treat them with respect and kindness.

Translations

To see the translation, please select a language from the options available.

Interesting Facts

Psychology

  • Research indicates that individuals who act unkindly often do so as a defense mechanism to shield their own insecurities.
  • Mean behavior can be contagious; if one person is unkind, others in their environment may be encouraged to behave similarly.

Social Dynamics

  • Social scientists find that mean behavior often occurs in hierarchical groups, where individuals who feel threatened may act out toward others to assert dominance.
  • Bullying is a common form of mean behavior, often seen in schools, affecting both the bully and the victims psychologically.

Literature

  • In classic literature, characters who act meanly often face significant consequences, teaching moral lessons about kindness and empathy.
  • Many children's books, such as 'The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe,' depict mean characters that eventually face their own downfall, emphasizing the value of kindness.

Pop Culture

  • The phrase 'Mean Girls,' popularized by a hit movie, showcases how unkind behavior among peers can lead to chaos and life lessons.
  • Popular songs often address themes of mean behavior, such as Taylor Swift's 'Mean,' which advocates for resilience against unkindness.

Origin of 'meanly'

Main points about word origin

  • The word 'meanly' comes from the Middle English word 'menely,' meaning 'in a low manner' or 'nobly,' which is ironic since it now means unkind.
  • The root word 'mean' in this context is derived from the Old English 'mวฃnan,' which meant 'to intend,' but evolved to imply stinginess or unkindness over time.

The word 'meanly' originated from the Middle English word 'menely', which meant 'in a moderate degree'. Over time, its meaning shifted to convey the idea of acting in an unkind or malicious manner. The word has been used in English literature and everyday language to describe behavior that is lacking in kindness or compassion.

See also: demean, demeaning, mean, meaningless, meanness, means, meant, meantime, meanwhile, meanwhilst.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,988, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.