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
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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
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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
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5
as in to refuse
to be unwilling to grant
ultimately, we negatived the request for a personal loan
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of negative
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The bear tested negative for rabies and distemper.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Wet-plate negatives retained their sensitivity to light only while wet.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Yueqi Yang, Time, 20 Apr. 2022
Travelers also need to negative COVID-19 test within one day of flying to return to the United States.
—Dallas News, 7 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for negative
Adjective
To avoid the same issues, former national park superintendents have pushed for park closures, and the NPCA has warned of the negative impacts likely to unfold if parks are left open.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
The bear tested negative for rabies and distemper.
—Lauren Liebhaber, Kansas City Star, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
But the update on McCarthy brings a positive amid the negative.
—Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Sep. 2025
Wet-plate negatives retained their sensitivity to light only while wet.
—Literary Hub, 29 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
Travelers also need to negative COVID-19 test within one day of flying to return to the United States.
—Dallas News, 7 Feb. 2022
See All Example Sentences for negative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negative
Adjective
-
Tampa is heading into a hostile environment against a feisty Seattle Seahawks team that matches them with a 3-1 record.—
Josh Buckhalter,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Oct. 2025
-
Republicans, traditionally seen as more hostile to government, are often viewed as the shutdown aggressors.—
W. James Antle III,
The Washington Examiner,
2 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
With Dart now the starter in New York, however, Ward will need to overcome unfavorable surroundings and orchestrate a Titans turnaround to stay in the top spot.—
Dane Brugler,
New York Times,
1 Oct. 2025
-
After an unfavorable appeals court decision in December, Nasdaq stopped mandating companies disclose their board gender and diversity stats.—
Julia Boorstin,
CNBC,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Ohio House Republicans voted to override this particular veto in July.—
Giulia Carbonaro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Oct. 2025
-
The measure—authored by State Senator Scott Wiener—follows last year’s veto of a stricter bill that was roundly opposed by Silicon Valley heavyweights and AI companies.—
Jeremy Kahn,
Fortune,
30 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
While major pro sports leagues feature a stable arrangement, with unionized players negotiating a CBA and collectively bargained terms exempt from antitrust scrutiny, the opposite is true in college sports.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
In the end, the strike had the opposite of its intended effect.—
Ruth Margalit,
New Yorker,
4 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Without proximity to these prestigious networks, they’re left to compete at a distinct disadvantage.—
Sarah Maokosy,
Fortune,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The bullpen goes to the Phillies, but the Dodgers will try to mitigate that disadvantage with some of their extra starters.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Seven of those charged previously pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and prosecutors moved to dismiss their felony counts.—
Quinlan Bentley,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Olguin dismissed the case in 2022 after finding Elden’s claims were time-barred without addressing the substance of his allegations.—
CNN Money,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Republicans argue Democrats want to fund health care for immigrants in the country illegally, a claim Democrats deny.—
Todd Spangler,
Freep.com,
4 Oct. 2025
-
Once there, she was assigned a bare mattress on the floor and denied religious accommodations, including Halal meals, her lawyers said.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The letter also called for the return of mandatory standardized testing in university admissions and for universities to report the anonymous scores and grades of accepted and rejected students.—
Helen Rummel,
AZCentral.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In a June ruling, a three-judge Kansas Court of Appeals panel rejected Kobach’s arguments in no uncertain terms.—
Matthew Kelly,
Kansas City Star,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negative. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
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