meanspiritedness
Syllables
mean-spir-it-ed-ness
Pronunciation
/ˌmiːnˈspɪrɪtɪdnəs/ or /ˌmɪnˈspɪrɪtɪdnəs/
Stress
00100
Morphemes
mean- + spirit + -ed
The word 'mean-spiritedness' is divided into five syllables: mean-spir-it-ed-ness. The primary stress falls on the third syllable ('it'). It's morphologically complex, built from a prefix, root, and two suffixes. Syllable division follows standard English rules based on vowel-consonant sequences.
Definitions
- 1
The quality of being deliberately unkind, spiteful, or malicious.
“Her mean-spirited comments were hurtful.”
“The politician was accused of mean-spirited attacks on his opponent.”
Stress pattern
Primary stress falls on the third syllable ('it'). The first and last syllables are unstressed.
Syllables
mean — Open syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Vowel length can vary.. spir — Closed syllable, consonant cluster followed by vowel and consonant.. it — Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Primary stress.. ed — Closed syllable, vowel followed by consonant. Weak vowel possible in faster speech.. ness — Closed syllable, consonant followed by vowel and consonant.
Word Parts
Similar Words
Vowel + Consonant
Syllables are divided after a vowel when followed by a consonant (e.g., 'mean').
Consonant Cluster + Vowel + Consonant
Syllables are divided around vowel sounds within consonant clusters (e.g., 'spir').
- Vowel length variation in 'mean' (/miːn/ vs. /mɪn/).
- Pronunciation of '-ed' suffix (/ɪd/, /t/, or /d/) depending on preceding sound.
- Potential 'r' dropping in some regional accents.
Nearby Words
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