Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The state or character of being unkind; want of kindness; want of natural affection; want of good will; ill will.
  • noun An unkind act; harsh treatment; an ill turn.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun uncountable The state or quality of being unkind.
  • noun countable An unkind act.
  • noun countable The collective noun for ravens

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun lack of sympathy

Etymologies

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Examples

  • Her earnest, eloquent justification of herself, and her lofty sense of female honor, are rendered more affecting and impressive by that chilling despair that contempt for a life which has been made bitter to her through unkindness, which is betrayed in every word of her speech, though so calmly characteristic.

    Characteristics of Women Moral, Poetical, and Historical 1827

  • And in a way, they remind me of juvenile ravens, because they tend to collect in a gaggle [although technically and grammatically and practically, the term is an "unkindness"], where they spend an inordinate amount of bandwidth and space commenting on the writing field and promoting the new works of the younger writers, whom they wish to join.

    February « 2008 « L.E. Modesitt, Jr. – The Official Website 2008

  • And in a way, they remind me of juvenile ravens, because they tend to collect in a gaggle [although technically and grammatically and practically, the term is an "unkindness"], where they spend an inordinate amount of bandwidth and space commenting on the writing field and promoting the new works of the younger writers, whom they wish to join.

    "Promoterism" In Writing? « L.E. Modesitt, Jr. – The Official Website 2008

  • Strange, that what I called 'unkindness' for so many years, in departing should have left to me such a sudden desolation!

    The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning Browning, Elizabeth B 1898

  • Strange, that what I called 'unkindness' for so many years, in departing should have left to me such a sudden desolation!

    The Letters of Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Volume II Elizabeth Barrett Browning 1833

  • "Surely man may mark 'unkindness' altered eye 'as well as woman," said

    Tales and Novels — Volume 10 Maria Edgeworth 1808

  • BBC correspondent Kevin Connolly, apparently dismayed by such "unkindness", is to hand with explanations, clarifications - and a delicious mixed metaphor.

    Telegraph Blogs 2009

  • The owner, I doubt not, had, at least, as much kindness as myself; but he was so used to see the slaves living without common comforts, that the idea of unkindness in the present instance did not enter his mind. "

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 3 of 4 American Anti-Slavery Society

  • _ The owner, I doubt not, had at least as much kindness as myself; but he was so used to see the slaves living without common comforts, that the idea of unkindness in the present instance did not enter his mind. "

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Part 3 of 4 American Anti-Slavery Society

  • The owner, I doubt not, had, at least, as much kindness as myself; but he was so used to see the slaves living without common comforts, that the idea of unkindness in the present instance did not enter his mind. "

    The Anti-Slavery Examiner, Omnibus American Anti-Slavery Society

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