What does "unkindly" mean?
Not kindly.; Not kind, lacking in friendliness, warm-heartedness or sympathy.
Unkindly
/ʌnˈkaɪndli/ adj, adv
adj, adv ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Not kindly.; Not kind, lacking in friendliness, warm-heartedness or sympathy.
- Grammar: unkindly is listed as adj, adv.
- Nearest alternatives: badly, bitingly, caustically, cruelly.
- Useful contrasts: kindliest, kindly, beneficently.
- Usage evidence: These stories are as old as anything that men have invented. They were narrated by naked savage women to naked savage children. They have been inherited by our earliest civilised ancestors, who really believed that beasts and trees and stones can talk if they choose, and behave kindly or unkindly. The stories are full of the oldest ideas of ages when science did not exist, and magic took the place of science.
How to use "unkindly"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "unkindly" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "unkindly" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "unkindly" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "unkindly" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "unkindly" is acting as adj, adv in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "badly" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "unkindly", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Adjective
- 1 Not kindly.; Not kind, lacking in friendliness, warm-heartedness or sympathy.
"Preceded by the beadle, and attended by an irregular procession of stern-browed men and unkindly visaged women, Hester Prynne set forth towards the place appointed for her punishment."
- 2 Not kindly.; Rough, unfavourable, bad. archaic
"From this superfluous pulp in unkindely, and wet years, may arise that multiplicity of little insects, which infest the Roots and Sprouts of tender Graines and pulses."
- 3 Not kindly.; Unnatural, contrary to the natural or proper order of things. obsolete
"That detestable sight him much amazde, / To see th’vnkindly Impes of heauen accurst, / Deuoure their dam;"
Adjective
- 1 lacking in sympathy and kindness wordnet
Adverb
- 1 In an unkind manner.
"Good master, take it not unkindly, pray, / That I have been thus pleasant [i.e. joking] with you both."
- 2 In an unnatural manner. obsolete
"All th’ unaccomplisht works of Natures hand, / Abortive, monstrous, or unkindly mixt, / Dissolvd on earth, fleet hither, and in vain, / Till final dissolution, wander here,"
Adverb
- 1 in an unkind manner or with unkindness wordnet
Example
"These stories are as old as anything that men have invented. They were narrated by naked savage women to naked savage children. They have been inherited by our earliest civilised ancestors, who really believed that beasts and trees and stones can talk if they choose, and behave kindly or unkindly. The stories are full of the oldest ideas of ages when science did not exist, and magic took the place of science."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "unkindly"?
Common synonyms include: badly, bitingly, caustically, cruelly, derogatorily, disagreeable.
How do you use "unkindly" in a sentence?
These stories are as old as anything that men have invented. They were narrated by naked savage women to naked savage children. They have been inherited by our earliest civilised ancestors, who really believed that beasts and trees and stones can talk if they choose, and behave kindly or unkindly. The stories are full of the oldest ideas of ages when science did not exist, and magic took the place of science.
How do you pronounce "unkindly"?
Pronounced /ʌnˈkaɪndli/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
From Middle English unkyndely, from Old English unġecyndelīċ; equivalent to un- + kindly (adjective).
Etymology 2
From Middle English unkyndely, from Old English unġecyndelīċe; equivalent to un- + kindly (adverb) or unkind + -ly.