un·kind

(ŭn-kīnd′)

adj. un·kind·er, un·kind·est

1. Lacking kindness; inconsiderate or unsympathetic.

2. Harsh; severe: unkind winters.

un·kind′ness n.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Unkindness

of ravens: a company of ravens, 1452.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

unkindness - lack of sympathy

insensitiveness, insensitivity - the inability to respond to affective changes in your interpersonal environment

unhelpfulness - an inability to be helpful

inconsiderateness, inconsideration, thoughtlessness - the quality of failing to be considerate of others

kindness - the quality of being warmhearted and considerate and humane and sympathetic

unkindness

noun cruelty, spite, malice, insensitivity, harshness, inhumanity, meanness, ill will, malevolence, spitefulness, maliciousness, hardheartedness, unfeelingness He realized the unkindness of the remark.
charity, sympathy, benevolence, goodwill, generosity, kindness, friendliness, thoughtfulness

Quotations
"This was the most unkindest cut of all" [William Shakespeare Julius Caesar]

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

insensibilità

unkindness

[ʌnˈkaɪndnɪs] N

1. (= quality) → falta f de amabilidad; (= cruelty) → crueldad f

2. (= act) → acto m de crueldad
to do sb an unkindness → portarse mal con algn

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

unkindness

n → Unfreundlichkeit f; (= cruelty) → Lieblosigkeit f, → Gemeinheit f; the unkindness of the weather → das schlechte Wetter

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

unkindness

[ʌnˈkaɪndnɪs] n → sgarbatezza; (stronger) → cattiveria

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

It is the unpardonable sin now; is there the memory of an unkindness to stalk the street with him to-night?

View in context

She expresses a most eager desire of being acquainted with me, and makes very gracious mention of my children but I am not quite weak enough to suppose a woman who has behaved with inattention, if not with unkindness, to her own child, should be attached to any of mine.

View in context

But for you, O my children, whose lives are but newly begun, the wickedness, unkindness, and ingratitude from which I fled are before you.

View in context

The possibility of his having endured such unkindness, was enough to interest all her tender feelings; and nothing remained therefore to be done, but to think well of them both, to defend the conduct of each, and throw into the account of accident or mistake whatever could not be otherwise explained.

View in context

If without loving me, from DUTY he'll be good and kind to me, without what I want, that's a thousand times worse than unkindness! That's--hell!

View in context

Lessons in patience were so sweetly taught her that she could not fail to learn them, charity for all, the lovely spirit that can forgive and truly forget unkindness, the loyalty to duty that makes the hardest easy, and the sincere faith that fears nothing, but trusts undoubtingly.

View in context

Still further to screen her husband from any imputation on unkindness to her, she took twenty-five of the fifty pounds Clare had given her, and handed the sum over to her mother, as if the wife of a man like Angel Clare could well afford it, saying that it was a slight return for the trouble and humiliation she had brought upon them in years past.

View in context

She wished, by a gentle remonstrance, to remind Isabella of her situation, and make her aware of this double unkindness; but for remonstrance, either opportunity or comprehension was always against her.

View in context

It was not necessary to pry into them - it might even be unkindness. The picture, which no man save himself had ever seen, was the only possible link between the past and the present - between Scarlett Trent and his drunken old partner, starved and fever-stricken, making their desperate effort for wealth in unknown Africa, and the millionaire of to-day.

View in context

She said the old judge had treated her child a thousand times better than he deserved, and had never done her an unkindness in his life; so she hated these outlandish devils for killing him, and shouldn't ever sleep satisfied till she saw them hanged for it.

View in context

Here was a gorgeous triumph; they were missed; they were mourned; hearts were breaking on their account; tears were being shed; accusing memories of unkindness to these poor lost lads were rising up, and unavailing regrets and re- morse were being indulged; and best of all, the depart- ed were the talk of the whole town, and the envy of all the boys, as far as this dazzling notoriety was con- cerned.

View in context

These difficulties, indeed, with a heart so alienated from Lucy, might not press very hard upon his patience; but melancholy was the state of the person by whom the expectation of family opposition and unkindness, could be felt as a relief!

View in context