Synonyms for unkind
- adjective
Most common
All synonyms
Adjective
1. Cruel
cruel, harsh, hurtful, ungracious, uncharitable, unmerciful, unkindly, brutal, unfriendly, unfeeling, unsympathetic, mean, pitiless, hard, inhospitable, inhuman, stern, inclement, unamiable, unsympathizing, unsympathising UK, ungenial, ungentle
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Lacking kindness, sympathy, benevolence, gratitude, or similar; cruel, harsh or unjust; ungrateful.
Related words
- Word family
- unkindly unkindness
Example sentences
- cruel I think it is cruel to trap animals for fur coats.
- hurtful The consequences of cheating are extremely hurtful.
- ill They called in a doctor because the child was ill.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| unkind | rising | |
| cruel | rising | |
| hurtful | rising | |
| uncharitable | steady | |
| ungracious | steady | |
| ill | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- ill1
- 4 letters
- mean1, hard1
- 5 letters
- cruel2, harsh1, stern1
- 6 letters
- brutal2
- 7 letters
- hurtful2, inhuman3
- 8 letters
- pitiless3, unkindly, ungentle, ungenial
- 9 letters
- inclement3, unfeeling3, unamiable
- 10 letters
- unfriendly3, ungracious, unmerciful4
- 12 letters
- inhospitable5, uncharitable
- 13 letters
- unsympathetic5
- 14 letters
- unsympathizing, unsympathising
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (cruel2 = 2 syllables).