1
as in dislike
a strong feeling of not liking or approving
made no attempt to hide his disfavor of his wife's relatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disapproval
refusal to accept as right or desirable
their suggestion was met with disfavor by virtually all of the other club members
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
the defendant certainly acted to his own disfavor with his frequent outbursts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dislike
to feel dislike for
a style of stage acting that is disfavored by most theatergoers today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to criticize
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
polls showing that this political candidate is highly disfavored by most voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disfavor
Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Given Franklin’s disfavor in London, William could expect no promotion.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Dan Daley, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disfavor
Noun
Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, boasted on Fox News that the FCC would keep ramping up its efforts to punish outlets the administration disfavors.
—Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Given Franklin’s disfavor in London, William could expect no promotion.
—Stacy Schiff, The Atlantic, 8 Oct. 2025
Verb
Those amendments were designed to stop partisan gerrymandering and require that maps not be drawn to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.
—Dan Daley, Sun Sentinel, 27 Apr. 2026
No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disfavor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disfavor
Noun
-
In the interview, which took place before the Colbert episode aired, the two figures talked about traditional folk music, Plant’s dislike of sea shanties, and the differences between English and American music.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
9 Apr. 2026
-
The company said the legal principles at stake affect every federal contractor whose views the government dislikes.—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
9 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
This short statement of disapproval made headlines, and was seen as part of what drove Le Graët to resign soon after.—
Aidan McLaughlin,
Vanity Fair,
12 May 2026
-
Trump’s disapproval rating is climbing as well, hitting a record 62% in a new poll, said Scott Clement and Dan Balz in The Washington Post.—
The Week US,
TheWeek,
11 May 2026
Noun
-
The United States’ withdrawal from the WHO, which took effect in January, has put American public health officials at a disadvantage, says David Larsen, PhD, professor and chair of the public health department at Syracuse University.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Rolling Stone,
8 May 2026
-
Instead, perhaps plucky Oklahoma, with all of its financial disadvantages, scheduling struggles and three-star players, could shake up the world.—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
8 May 2026
Verb
-
Spirit Airlines was the budget-friendly carrier America loved to hate.—
Dalila Muata,
NBC news,
9 May 2026
-
Since then, Faruqui — if not Allen himself — has become something of a hero to some Trump-hating progressive Democrats.—
Peter Lucas,
Boston Herald,
9 May 2026
Noun
-
Fans expressed their displeasure and here’s a bit of what was said on X.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
7 May 2026
-
And customers are not happy with the move, as many took to a Reddit post starting on April 27 to show their displeasure and share locations where the machines have already disappeared.—
Mateo Rosiles,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
Noun
-
If a drug retails for $100 and a hospital can buy it for $60, then charges the patient or their insurance the full $100 price, the hospital then has $40 to put toward other expenses.—
Dené K. Dryden,
Twin Cities,
8 May 2026
-
Winner is responsible for all applicable federal, state and local taxes, if any, as well as any other costs and expenses associated with Prize acceptance and use not specified herein as being provided.—
AJC.com,
AJC.com,
7 May 2026
Noun
-
The Soros’ announcement did not say how the foundations will define antisemitism — a point of contention on college campuses and in state legislatures where debates have raged over whether criticism of Israel amounts to hatred of Jewish people.—
James Pollard,
Fortune,
13 May 2026
-
The movie thus offers a complaint about the end results of Putinism, not about the ideas—the emotions, the enthusiasms, the resentments, the hatreds—that brought it about.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
Political observers think Talarico could surge to the fore in the primary despite, or perhaps because of, his outsider status.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Using that unscientific tool to gauge his Texas Rangers, the club after the first month of the season remains unchanged despites many changes: Average, and a stunning disappointment.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disfavor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disfavor. Accessed 15 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
