dis·fa·vor
(ˌ)dis-ˈfā-vər 
1
: disapproval, dislike
practices looked upon with disfavor
2
: the state or fact of being no longer favored
fell into disfavor
3
disfavored; disfavoring; disfavors
: to withhold or withdraw favor from
Synonyms
Examples of disfavor in a Sentence
Noun
He regarded their proposal with disfavor.
They looked with disfavor upon her.
Verb
The current laws favor large businesses and disfavor smaller businesses.
a style of stage acting that is disfavored by most theatergoers today
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Powell, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
Trump candidates have brought down multiple Republicans in the past as his rabid public following routinely puts pressure on GOP lawmakers who fall into the former president's disfavor.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 30 July 2023
At a time when trade liberalization and other traditional foreign policies have fallen into disfavor, and the domestic coalitions associated with them have splintered, leaders must find new arguments about the necessity of international openness and cooperation.
—Peter Trubowitz, Foreign Affairs, 3 May 2023
The current Supreme Court, for example, disfavors efforts to regulate business and commercial interests.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2023
For many Republican voters and conservatives, optimism about the economy and approval of the president have become deeply entwined — and for Democrats, disfavor for Trump brought pessimism over the economy even in the years of growth and low unemployment before the crisis.
—Jim Tankersley, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2020
Democracy returned the Adamses’ disfavor.
—H.w. Brands, WSJ, 20 Nov. 2020
Although the Shahs had asked for the women to behave themselves at his birthday, no Housewives episode would be complete without some party disfavor — and the tension between Meredith Marks and Lisa Barlow from last season continued to linger into Wednesday's premiere.
—Lanae Brody, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2022
In other words, California’s order didn’t violate the Constitution’s protections for religious freedom in Roberts’s eyes because they were tailored to the public-health crisis at hand, and didn’t appear to single out religious activities for disfavor.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 17 Nov. 2020
Jacob Gershman, WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023
When comparing fuel options for international shipping, Britons strongly disfavor ammonia.
—Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023
By contrast, many of those fleeing Russia for the U.S. have used the same difficult and at times treacherous route that disfavored refugees from all over the world use.
—Hamed Aleaziz, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
The consideration of personal qualities also disfavored Jews, who were thought to be academic grinds who lacked character.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023
In a decisive turn from the Trump-era policy that disfavored independent corporate monitors, three of the seven corporate resolutions in 2022 required the companies to retain independent compliance monitors.
—Robert Anello, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
Nor could Kyiv orient its foreign and economic relations toward the West in ways that disfavored Moscow.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
California and New York were the states most disfavored by conservative students.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Acceptance rates for Jews at top colleges have been declining, as entire categories of applicants have become disfavored by university admissions offices.
—Rebecca Sugar, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2023
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Noun
These are widely used but not mandatory, and make clear which answers by an applicant are likely to find disfavor with faculty diversity committees.
—Michael Powell, BostonGlobe.com, 9 Sep. 2023
Trump candidates have brought down multiple Republicans in the past as his rabid public following routinely puts pressure on GOP lawmakers who fall into the former president's disfavor.
—John Bacon, USA TODAY, 30 July 2023
At a time when trade liberalization and other traditional foreign policies have fallen into disfavor, and the domestic coalitions associated with them have splintered, leaders must find new arguments about the necessity of international openness and cooperation.
—Peter Trubowitz, Foreign Affairs, 3 May 2023
The current Supreme Court, for example, disfavors efforts to regulate business and commercial interests.
—Henry Gass, The Christian Science Monitor, 6 June 2023
For many Republican voters and conservatives, optimism about the economy and approval of the president have become deeply entwined — and for Democrats, disfavor for Trump brought pessimism over the economy even in the years of growth and low unemployment before the crisis.
—Jim Tankersley, BostonGlobe.com, 24 Aug. 2020
Democracy returned the Adamses’ disfavor.
—H.w. Brands, WSJ, 20 Nov. 2020
Although the Shahs had asked for the women to behave themselves at his birthday, no Housewives episode would be complete without some party disfavor — and the tension between Meredith Marks and Lisa Barlow from last season continued to linger into Wednesday's premiere.
—Lanae Brody, Peoplemag, 28 Sep. 2022
In other words, California’s order didn’t violate the Constitution’s protections for religious freedom in Roberts’s eyes because they were tailored to the public-health crisis at hand, and didn’t appear to single out religious activities for disfavor.
—Matt Ford, The New Republic, 17 Nov. 2020
Verb
The Supreme Court is stepping into the debate over speech rights and misinformation online, agreeing Friday to review lower-court rulings barring White House aides and other officials from pressuring social-media platforms to take down content disfavored by the government.
—Jacob Gershman, WSJ, 20 Oct. 2023
When comparing fuel options for international shipping, Britons strongly disfavor ammonia.
—Rachel Cusk, Harper's Magazine, 20 Sep. 2023
By contrast, many of those fleeing Russia for the U.S. have used the same difficult and at times treacherous route that disfavored refugees from all over the world use.
—Hamed Aleaziz, Los Angeles Times, 17 Aug. 2023
The consideration of personal qualities also disfavored Jews, who were thought to be academic grinds who lacked character.
—Jeannie Suk Gersen, The New Yorker, 8 Aug. 2023
In a decisive turn from the Trump-era policy that disfavored independent corporate monitors, three of the seven corporate resolutions in 2022 required the companies to retain independent compliance monitors.
—Robert Anello, Forbes, 22 Mar. 2023
Nor could Kyiv orient its foreign and economic relations toward the West in ways that disfavored Moscow.
—Matthew Gavin Frank, Harper's Magazine, 3 May 2023
California and New York were the states most disfavored by conservative students.
—Michael T. Nietzel, Forbes, 27 Mar. 2023
Acceptance rates for Jews at top colleges have been declining, as entire categories of applicants have become disfavored by university admissions offices.
—Rebecca Sugar, WSJ, 23 Mar. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'disfavor.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Phrases Containing disfavor
Dictionary Entries Near disfavor
Cite this Entry
“Disfavor.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/disfavor. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.
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Kids Definition
disfavor
1 of 2 noun
dis·fa·vor
(ˈ)dis-ˈfā-vər
1
: dislike entry 1, disapproval
practices looked upon with disfavor
2
: the state or fact of being disliked or disapproved
fell into disfavor
disfavor
2 of 2 verb
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