Looking up...
unkind
/ʌnˈkaɪnd/
not kind
It was unkind of him to ignore her when she needed help.
His refusal to assist her when she was in need showed a lack of compassion.
neutral
lacking kindness or compassion; cruel or harsh in behavior toward others
She was criticized for her unkind remarks about her coworker's appearance.
Her comments about her coworker's looks were seen as unnecessarily harsh.
The teacher scolded the student for his unkind treatment of the new classmate.
The teacher addressed the student's cruel behavior toward the newcomer.
Used to describe actions, words, or attitudes that intentionally or unintentionally hurt someone's feelings. Often implies a lack of empathy rather than extreme cruelty.
Collocations
unkind toshowing cruelty or lack of consideration towardunkind wordsharsh or hurtful remarksunkind behavioractions that lack kindness
Pro Tip
Avoiding 'unkindly' as an adjective
In English, 'unkindly' is primarily an adverb (e.g., 'She spoke unkindly to him'). When describing a person or their behavior, use 'unkind' as the adjective (e.g., 'His unkind words hurt her feelings').
Gold Rule
Unkind vs. Cruel
'Unkind' implies a lack of kindness or thoughtfulness, while 'cruel' suggests deliberate harm or suffering. For example, 'She was unkind to ignore his question' suggests carelessness, whereas 'She was cruel to spread rumors about him' implies malice.
Word Origin
From Middle English 'unkynde', from Old English 'uncynde' ('unnatural, unkind'), combining 'un-' (prefix meaning 'not') and 'cynde' ('natural, kind'). The sense evolved from 'unnatural' to 'lacking in kindness' by the 14th century.
Usage Notes
Unkind is a general term describing behavior that is inconsiderate or causes emotional harm. It is milder than 'cruel' but stronger than 'rude.' It can describe both intentional and unintentional actions. In formal writing, 'unkind' is preferred over 'unkindly' as an adjective (e.g., 'an unkind remark' vs. *'an unkindly remark').
Word Breakdown
un-
not
prefixkind
having a friendly or generous nature
rootEnglish Dictionary