Skip to content

méchanceté

meanness, malice

noun may-shahn-tay-TAY Rare

Usage Note

méchanceté is the abstract noun from méchant ('mean, wicked'). It can refer to the quality of being mean or to a specific nasty act: dire des méchancetés means 'to say mean things'. It is stronger than impolitesse ('rudeness') and implies genuine ill intent. The antonym is gentillesse ('kindness').

Examples

"Sa méchanceté a blessé tout le monde."

Natural Translation

His meanness hurt everyone.

Explore French by topic