1
as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
classes that hopefully will change the negative attitude that some students have toward the recent immigrants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfavorable
opposed to one's interests
the almost universally negative reaction to the book
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in veto
a vote or decision against something
in the absence of an unambiguous negative from the commander, we decided to continue on the mission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposite
something that is as different as possible from something else
the desire to control another person is actually the negative of real love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success
the main negative of this job is that I have to get up at 4:30 a.m.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dismiss
to reject by or as if by a vote
although the rebuttal was very eloquent, the jury negatived it in favor of the prosecution's argument we promptly negatived the idea of having pizza again for dinner, noting that we had already had it for three nights that week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deny
to declare not to be true
the governor's press secretary promptly negatived the rumor that he was not intending to run for reelection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reject
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
even though I had originally negatived the invitation, Mom thought I should go anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
no amount of flattery is likely to negative that overheard insult
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to refuse
to be unwilling to grant
ultimately, we negatived the request for a personal loan
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 negative
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026
As Palestinian Americans, the brothers grew up seeing people of similar backgrounds depicted by Hollywood in the most negative terms.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 May 2026
Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026
Abel’s detailed knowledge about Berkshire’s operating businesses won praise, but the unexplained absence of substantial buybacks and a lack of clarity on the future of the equity portfolio and Berkshire’s big cash pile are coming up as negatives.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 9 May 2026
Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 May 2022
But with sales growth expected to go from triple digits in 2021 to negative this year, shares have tanked to a record low recently.
—Yueqi Yang, Time, 20 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for negative
Adjective
No school in the Big 12 has as much positive momentum as Texas Tech, and no one is worth the headache, distractions and negative narratives that Sorsby will bring to the team if he is allowed to play in 2026.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 May 2026
As Palestinian Americans, the brothers grew up seeing people of similar backgrounds depicted by Hollywood in the most negative terms.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 20 May 2026
Noun
There were times when there were positives and negatives, ups and downs.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 11 May 2026
Abel’s detailed knowledge about Berkshire’s operating businesses won praise, but the unexplained absence of substantial buybacks and a lack of clarity on the future of the equity portfolio and Berkshire’s big cash pile are coming up as negatives.
—Alex Crippen, CNBC, 9 May 2026
Verb
Regardless, the outcome of this trial might not impact the ex-couple’s career prospects in all that negative a way, Engelmayer predicted.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 May 2022
But with sales growth expected to go from triple digits in 2021 to negative this year, shares have tanked to a record low recently.
—Yueqi Yang, Time, 20 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for negative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negative
Adjective
-
And Roosevelt explained in his summer radio addresses of 1941 that if the Germans win the war, the United States becomes an island within the world, with hostile empires dominating most of the world’s landmass.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2026
-
Steward filed a complaint with human resources on June 30, alleging a hostile work environment.—
Ben Wheeler
May 20,
Kansas City Star,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Assess contract health to reduce your exposure to cost creep and unfavorable terms.—
David Pennino,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
For Healey, 39% of respondents had a favorable view of her as governor, compared to 45% who have an unfavorable view of her.—
Tim Dunn,
Boston Herald,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
The bill is now on the governor's desk, awaiting a signature or veto.—
Chierstin Roth,
CBS News,
18 May 2026
-
There are currently four vacant seats on the court, but they cannot be filled, because the government has retained a veto until the new law kicks in, after the elections.—
Bernard Avishai,
New Yorker,
18 May 2026
Noun
-
In the Eastern Pacific, the opposite occurs, with favorable conditions supporting above-average hurricane season activity.—
Dan Peck,
ABC News,
14 May 2026
-
In the Pacific, the opposite happens, as wind shear is reduced during El Niños.—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
14 May 2026
Noun
-
Democrats view the open-seat contest as one of their better statewide opportunities in years, though the party still faces structural disadvantages in turnout during nonpresidential elections.—
Claire Carter,
The Washington Examiner,
16 May 2026
-
Ukraine is also facing its own infantry shortage and recruitment issues after starting at a manpower disadvantage compared to Russia.—
Ashley Belanger,
ArsTechnica,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
The court recommended that the petition be dismissed, and that the organizations be given one month to submit the employee lists.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Even the foundations of today’s artificial intelligence boom were laid by the NSF in the 1980s and 1990s, when neural networks were a backwater dismissed by mainstream computer science.—
Gautam Mukunda,
Twin Cities,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The medical providers Cole and Mosley accused denied wrongdoing.—
Jo Yurcaba,
NBC news,
16 May 2026
-
Weinstein’s attorneys have denied that encounter ever took place, and have argued that the trial judge improperly withheld evidence that would have bolstered his alibi.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Libby Savill, the deputy chair of Southbank Centre, outright rejected the allegations.—
News Desk,
Artforum,
19 May 2026
-
That could be fine if people knew when to rely on AIs and when to reject them.—
Gautam Mukunda,
Mercury News,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negative. Accessed 23 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
