Entry Word: favorable

Function: adjective

Meaning: 1 expressing approval <favorable reviews for the movie were few>

Synonyms admiring, applauding, appreciative, approving, commendatory, complimentary, friendly, good, positive

Related Words eulogistic, laudatory, praiseful; respectful, supportive; adulatory, worshipful

Near Antonyms captious, carping, caviling (or cavilling), censuring, hypercritical, overcritical

Antonyms adverse, disapproving, negative, unappreciative, uncomplimentary, unfavorable, unfriendly

2 pointing toward a happy outcome <favorable conditions for opening a new business>

Synonyms auspicious, bright, encouraging, golden, heartening, hopeful, promising, propitious

Related Words fortunate, happy, lucky, providential; advantageous, beneficial, profitable

Near Antonyms unfortunate, unhappy, unlucky; calamitous, catastrophic, disastrous, fatal, ruinous

Antonyms discouraging, disheartening, futureless, hopeless, inauspicious, unfavorable, unpromising

3 conferring benefits; promoting or contributing to personal or social well-being <moved to a region with a milder climate with the hope that it would be more favorable to his health> — see beneficial
4 showing or expressing acceptance or approval <a favorable reply to our request> — see positive