as in despised
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in hated
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 disliked
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
polls showing that this political candidate is highly disfavored by most voters
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of disfavored
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
As the court expressly recognized, the First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power—including the power of the purse—‘to punish or suppress disfavored expression’ by others.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
In the ruling, the court concluded that the administration attempted to suppress disfavored news coverage by singling out two speakers on the basis of their speech.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
Earlier this year, we were advised to avoid using words included on the government’s growing list of disfavored words.
—Leslie Fields-Cruz, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2025
Some curbed its oversight over sister branches, others installed term limits or mandated a retirement age for justices, and still others granted the Senate the power to overrule disfavored opinions and require new justices to have prior judicial experience.
—Time, 14 Nov. 2025
And Carr’s public comments undoubtedly connect that threat to Kimmel’s disfavored comments.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Research that could be seen as disfavored by one political party may not get done because of the fear it could be terminated with a change in administration.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 6 Feb. 2026
Data indicates these petitions are granted less than 1% of the time and are particularly disfavored in the Second Circuit.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Adjective
On Wednesday morning, that tally stood at a hefty seven hundred and thirty-four, with cases ranging from the President’s immigration policies to his dismantling of disfavored agencies to his effort to punish law firms to his ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026
As the court expressly recognized, the First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power—including the power of the purse—‘to punish or suppress disfavored expression’ by others.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026
In the ruling, the court concluded that the administration attempted to suppress disfavored news coverage by singling out two speakers on the basis of their speech.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026
Earlier this year, we were advised to avoid using words included on the government’s growing list of disfavored words.
—Leslie Fields-Cruz, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2025
Some curbed its oversight over sister branches, others installed term limits or mandated a retirement age for justices, and still others granted the Senate the power to overrule disfavored opinions and require new justices to have prior judicial experience.
—Time, 14 Nov. 2025
And Carr’s public comments undoubtedly connect that threat to Kimmel’s disfavored comments.
—Preston Fore, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Musero said that evidence in the trial would show that the lists signaled to other agents that he was disfavored and shouldn’t be submitted for work opportunities.
—Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026
Research that could be seen as disfavored by one political party may not get done because of the fear it could be terminated with a change in administration.
—Anil Oza, STAT, 6 Feb. 2026
Data indicates these petitions are granted less than 1% of the time and are particularly disfavored in the Second Circuit.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disfavored
Adjective
-
Smith had slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Academy Awards, and was suddenly one of the most despised actors in America.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
20 Apr. 2026
-
This is a despised company right now.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Probably the beginning of his freshman year, hated him.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
4 June 2026
-
The guys who started this country, some of them hated each other with just as much venom and outrage and indignance as political players hate each other today.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Almost everything that my sister disliked about the paper route was something that appealed to me.—
Peter Hessler,
New Yorker,
31 May 2026
-
For all the prior cinematic depictions of storming bunkers and camaraderie under fire, Pressure offers us the quiet heroism of rational restraint in the figure of James Stagg, who weathered his inner storms and bore the courage to be disliked.—
Daniel Jonah Wolpert,
NPR,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
New Hampshire, which rejected the DNC’s plan, held a leadoff primary ahead of South Carolina anyway, and Biden — who didn’t campaign or have his name on the ballot — still won by a sizable margin after supporters mounted a write-in campaign on his behalf.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 May 2026
-
Voters rejected a state ballot proposal in 1998 to legalize the prescription of lethal medication to help terminally ill, competent, informed adults commit suicide in Michigan, with 71% voting against the initiative.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
One of the most notable examples came when former MVP James Harden publicly criticized then-Houston Rockets executive Daryl Morey after Morey's support for pro-democracy protesters in Hong Kong triggered a backlash from Chinese officials and business partners.—
Alejandro Avila OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
2 June 2026
-
Trump harshly criticized Powell throughout his tenure as chair, frequently attacking the Fed’s interest-rate decisions and urging the central bank to cut borrowing costs more aggressively.—
Leah Willingham,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Disfavored.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disfavored. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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