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Mean-spirited vs Contemptible - What's the difference?

mean-spirited | contemptible | Related terms |

Mean-spirited is a related term of contemptible.


As adjectives the difference between mean-spirited and contemptible

is that mean-spirited is having a base, nasty, petty, or malevolent disposition while contemptible is deserving contempt.

mean-spirited

English

Alternative forms

*mean spirited *meanspirited

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Having a base, nasty, petty, or malevolent disposition.
  • *1877 , , A Knight Of The Nineteenth Century , ch. 15,
  • *:My old acquaintances would sneer at me as a mean-spirited cur, whose best exploit was to get in jail.

    • References

    * * *Random House Webster's Unabridged Electronic Dictionary , 1987-1996.

    contemptible

    English

    Alternative forms

    * contemptable

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • deserving contempt
  • * {{quote-book
    • , year=between 1812 and 1814 , author= , title= , chapter=1 , passage=Miss Ward’s match, indeed, when it came to the point, was not contemptible : Sir Thomas being happily able to give his friend an income in the living of Mansfield...}}

    Synonyms

    * despicable