mean message

USAGE SUMMARY

"mean message" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to an unkind, hostile, or otherwise unpleasant message. For example, "He sent me a mean message criticizing my work."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

14 human-written examples

This is the historical legacy that Glenn Beck, a small man with a mean message, has chosen to tread upon with his cynical rally on Saturday at that very same Lincoln Memorial.

The New York Times

Embedding capacity is defined as the maximum mean message length which could be embedded in an image.

EURASIP Journal on Information Security

Figure 16 Service Packets-Loss Rate versus Mean Number of Neighbors (message generation rate 150 msgs/s and mean message size 500 bytes).

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

This paper presents a new mathematical model to investigate the effects of failures and capture the mean message latency in torus using PCS in the presence of faulty components.

Journal of Computer and System Sciences

The analysis and presentation phase is the last phase of an experiment, where statistical parameters (e.g., mean message throughput, mean end-to-end latencies,..) are calculated from the individual experiment runs and presented to the user.

EURASIP Journal on Embedded Systems

messages generation rate: number of messages generated by the messages manager per second, mean message size, in order to consider the necessary delay to send each message, according to the effective bandwidth, mean number of neighbors, in order to evaluate the effective theoretical bandwidth available for each node.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

45 human-written examples

Two exes scrawled mean messages on his walls.

The New York Times

She said cyberbullying increased at her school last year, with students texting or posting mean messages about classmates.

The New York Times

She recalled mean messages her classmates had posted about her on a popular online forum, even as she sympathized with what she saw as their desire to fit in.

The New York Times - Magazine

Figures 13 and 14 present the impact of the mean messages size on the delays and the service packets loss rate.

EURASIP Journal on Wireless Communications and Networking

He kept ignoring me or sent me really mean messages telling me to fuck off, and then eventually the thrill just faded for me.

Vice

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing online interactions, use "mean message" to specifically denote a communication intended to be hurtful or offensive.

Common error

Be sure that when you label a communication as a "mean message", it reflects a clear intent to cause harm or offense, rather than a misunderstanding or poorly worded expression.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "mean message" functions as a noun phrase, where "mean" acts as an adjective modifying the noun "message". It describes a specific type of message characterized by its unkind or malicious nature. Ludwig confirms its proper usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

40%

Science

32%

Wiki

18%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Academia

3%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "mean message" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe a communication intended to cause harm or offense. As shown in Ludwig, it's frequently used in news, science, and general online discussions. While synonyms like "unkind message" or "hurtful message" exist, "mean message" specifically implies a deliberate intention to be unkind. Understanding this nuance is crucial for accurately describing and addressing instances of negative communication.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unkind message

Replaces "mean" with a synonym focusing on the lack of kindness.

cruel message

Conveys the message is deliberately causing pain or suffering.

nasty message

Substitutes "mean" with a more intense synonym implying maliciousness.

hurtful message

Focuses on the emotional impact of the message.

offensive message

Highlights that the message violates social norms.

critical message

Emphasizes the negative or fault-finding nature of the message.

abusive message

Indicates a message that is severely harmful and bullying in nature.

derogatory message

Focuses on the belittling and disrespectful aspect of the message.

disparaging message

Highlights the message's intent to diminish or undervalue the recipient.

unpleasant message

Replaces "mean" with a more general term for something disagreeable.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "mean message" to sound more formal?

Consider using "offensive communication", "derogatory statement", or "disparaging remark" as more formal alternatives to "mean message".

What's the difference between a "hurtful message" and a "mean message"?

While both cause pain, a "mean message" typically implies a deliberate intention to harm, whereas a "hurtful message" might be unintentional but still cause emotional distress.

When is it appropriate to describe something as a "mean message"?

It is appropriate when the message contains content designed to insult, demean, or cause emotional pain to the recipient. The sender's intent is a key factor.

What are some synonyms for "mean message" in informal contexts?

In informal contexts, you might use phrases like "nasty text", "cutting remark", or "hurtful comment" instead of "mean message".