untoward

adjective

un·​to·​ward ˌən-ˈtō-ərd 

-ˈtȯ(-ə)rd;

ˌən-tə-ˈwȯrd 

1

: difficult to guide, manage, or work with : unruly, intractable

2

a

: marked by trouble or unhappiness : unlucky

b

: not favorable : adverse, unpropitious

untoward side effects

3

: improper, indecorous

untowardly adverb

untowardness noun

Did you know?

Toward and Untoward

For centuries, the adjective toward described “forward-moving” youngsters, the kind who showed promise and were open to listening to their elders. The adjective then came to mean amiable or obliging. The opposite of this now-obsolete sense of toward is froward, meaning “disobedient.” Froward has fallen out of common use, but thankfully another toward antonym, untoward, obliged in picking up the slack. In addition to describing people or things that are “difficult to guide, manage, or work with,” untoward today is applied to that which is unfavorable or adverse, as well as to things that are inappropriate or in bad taste.

Synonyms

• rebellious
• rebel
• contrary
• defiant

Examples of untoward in a Sentence

There was nothing untoward about his appearance.

tried to reason with the untoward child

Recent Examples on the Web

Oh, and there's a human operator on board in the front passenger seat, instructed to remain silent through the trip and be prepared to hit a kill switch in case of any untoward incidents in traffic. —New Atlas, 23 June 2025

Using that data, the system monitors the dark web and other sources for any untoward activity involving that personal data. —PC Magazine, 17 June 2025

At the very least, Democrats and Republicans agree that wafting cigarette smoke in someone’s face and capturing their reaction on video — without first asking — is untoward. —Mark Z. Barabak, Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2025

The specialized data training that followed the initial development of the generative AI app is supposed to curtail that type of untoward activity. —Lance Eliot, Forbes, 15 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for untoward

• checkerboard
• clavichord
• fiberboard
• fibreboard
• fingerboard
• harpsichord
• motherboard
• notochord
• overboard
• overlord
• paperboard
• plasterboard

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Kids Definition

untoward

adjective

un·​to·​ward ˌən-ˈtō(-ə)rd  ˈən- 

-ˈtȯ(-ə)rd;

ˌən-tə-ˈwȯ(ə)rd

1

: hard to manage : stubborn, willful

an untoward child

2

: causing trouble : unlucky

an untoward accident