Unkindly means in a mean or harsh way, without warmth or consideration for someone's feelings. When you speak unkindly to someone, your words might be sharp, cold, or deliberately hurtful. If a student laughs unkindly at a classmate's mistake, they're mocking it and making the person feel worse about their error.

The word describes not just what you do but how you do it. You could point out that someone's drawing needs work, but you could say it kindly or unkindly. The unkind version might sound like “That's terrible” instead of “Here's what might help it look better.” The same truth delivered unkindly can damage a friendship that kind honesty would have preserved.

Sometimes people act unkindly without meaning to, when they're distracted or upset. But unkindly can also suggest a deliberate edge, a choice to be cold rather than warm. When you notice someone treating another person unkindly, you're seeing them choose harshness over gentleness, criticism over encouragement.