having or showing an unkindly or unpleasant disposition
Derived forms
ill-naturedly
adverb
ill-naturedness
noun
Word origin
[1625–35]This word is first recorded in the period 1625–35. Other words that entered Englishat around the same time include: cabaret, consciousness, deviate, interlock, substratum
Examples of 'ill-natured' in a sentence
ill-natured
When he smiled, which was surprisingly often, he succeeded only in looking conspiratorial and ill-natured.
Townsend, Eileen IN LOVE AND WAR
He isn't just ill-natured, he is infectiously immoral.
The Sun (2013)
Despite teasing mockery, some of it ill-natured, this is real value for money.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
They're surprised, but 99 times out of 100 it's not ill-natured.
Times, Sunday Times (2018)
It is often described as 'the most ill-natured interview ever'.