An informal term for a person who is unkind, cruel, or spiteful to others. Often used playfully or by children to describe someone who is being mean.
Formed by adding the diminutive suffix '-ie' to 'mean' (cruel or unkind). This construction pattern is common in English for creating informal, often childlike terms that can soften the harshness of the original word.
Despite describing unkind behavior, 'meanie' itself sounds almost endearing due to its childlike construction - it's hard to take seriously as an insult. This linguistic softening reflects how we often use diminutive forms to make harsh realities more palatable, especially when talking to or like children.
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