as in animosity
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Recent Examples of Synonyms for mean-spiritedness
Noun
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The animosity between the rival factions — one backing President Salva Kiir and another backing his deputy Riek Machar — has threatened to upheave the already shaky 2018 peace deal after dozens were killed following Machar’s recent arrest late last month, according to the outlet.—
Sean Neumann,
People.com,
7 Apr. 2025 -
Duke may be one of the most celebrated programs in college basketball, but that admiration comes with just as much animosity.—
John W. Dean,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Apr. 2025
Noun
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There’s still no ceasefire over the physical remains of the Houston Oilers, now the Titans, and the ongoing feud is defined by petty antagonism and proxy wars.—
Brooks Kubena,
New York Times,
28 Mar. 2025
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But to get up and running, Valley Link needs more state and regional funding, especially considering the Trump administration’s antagonism toward environmentally friendly projects.—
Jerry McNerney,
The Mercury News,
12 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Stolarz’s inclination to shout instructions at teammates on the ice, often with serious levels of hostility in the name of competition, comes to him naturally.—
Joshua Kloke,
New York Times,
8 Apr. 2025
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Datta writes that Indians had faced violent treatment at the hands of Japanese forces, even if the Chinese community bore the brunt of the Japanese hostility.—
H.M.A. Leow,
JSTOR Daily,
7 Apr. 2025
Noun
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Slightly off-topic comments can derail it so far away from the original point, and it isn't always done with malice.—
Peter Suciu,
Forbes.com,
4 Apr. 2025
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To borrow another logical principle, Hanlon's razor: Don't ascribe to malice that which can be otherwise explained by rank incompetence.—
Ron Estes,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Mar. 2025
Noun
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In spite of that, Alexander said, intentional misinformation has been circulating that Anthony’s family had bought a new home with the funds raised and was living in luxury.—
Harriet Ramos,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
17 Apr. 2025
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Hadid, for example, is attractive not because of—but rather in spite of—her eyewear choice.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
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After much rancor during the last lockout, the 2022 season was delayed, but the entire 162-game schedule was preserved, with off days and split-doubleheaders making up for the games lost during the one-week delay.—
Barry M. Bloom,
Sportico.com,
1 Mar. 2025
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The call contrasts the leaders' White House meeting on February 28, which ended in rancor.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
20 Mar. 2025
Noun
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As the war in Ukraine escalated and the enmity between Moscow and its Western rivals deepened, Lukashenko's apparent hesitance to fully commit to the conflict seems to have bought him some level of freedom from retaliation.—
David Brennan,
ABC News,
5 Dec. 2024
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Meet hate with love, and enmity with kindness.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
8 Mar. 2025
Noun
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At others, there are undertones of malevolence, potential violence.—
Deborah Treisman,
The New Yorker,
16 Mar. 2025
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Or in the case of Polanski’s, of the Hey-nothing-personal malevolence of late-model capitalism?—
Jim Shepard,
New York Times,
12 Feb. 2025
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“Mean-spiritedness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/mean-spiritedness. Accessed 21 Apr. 2025.
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