unkindly

[ uhn-kahynd-lee ]

adjective

, un·kind·li·er, un·kind·li·est.

1. not kindly; unkind; ill-natured.
2. inclement or bleak, as weather or climate.
3. unfavorable for crops:

   unkindly soil.

adverb

1. in an unkind manner.

Other Words From

• un·kindli·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of unkindly¹

Middle English word dating back to 1175–1225; un- ¹, kindly

Example Sentences

The Leeds boss suggested captain Pascal Struijk had seen the ball bounce unkindly in front of his goalkeeper, causing Meslier to let it spin past him.

From BBC

The crowd unkindly chanted at the refs what they thought of them.

From Seattle Times

"I was just looking up 30-foot camera tracks, and they do exist," she replies - not unkindly, but with enough force to make her point clear.

From BBC

Another student, Danielle Pompey, claimed Mr DeSantis had treated her unkindly as a student, alleging this was because she was Black.

From Salon

The two contenders to be the next prime minister, unkindly branded "dull and duller" by one of their rivals, do not have the obvious instinct to breed deliberate controversy, to break the rules.

From BBC

Related Words

• ferociously
• fiercely
• mercilessly
• relentlessly
• ruthlessly
• savagely
• viciously