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
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
a negative impact
negative consequences
terrible consequences
awful consequences
nasty consequences
unfavorable consequences
disadvantageous consequences
negative reaction
negative thoughts
negative feelings
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
Caroline Blair, People.com, 28 June 2025
Put it all together, and this year has been a textbook example of how a negative NIIP profile can magnify currency turmoil, Ford warned.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 June 2025
David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Each morning, Katz evaluates the computers’ suggestions, highlights the positives, inputs new rules to correct the negatives and begins the process again.
—Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Allison Pohle, WSJ, 2 Aug. 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
However, the theory fell through after Sam tested negative for gun residue and fully cooperated with officers.
—Caroline Blair, People.com, 28 June 2025
Put it all together, and this year has been a textbook example of how a negative NIIP profile can magnify currency turmoil, Ford warned.
—Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune, 28 June 2025
Noun
The ratings agencies offered a mixed bag of positives and negatives for the company going forward.
—David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 27 May 2025
Each morning, Katz evaluates the computers’ suggestions, highlights the positives, inputs new rules to correct the negatives and begins the process again.
—Jayna Bardahl, New York Times, 13 May 2025
Verb
And passengers boarding international flights to the U.S. no longer need to test negative a day before departure or prove recovery from Covid in the past 90 days.
—Allison Pohle, WSJ, 2 Aug. 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
-
Meanwhile, Syria has turned from a fertile ground to a hostile one for Iran and its assets, after the Assad regime was toppled in December.—
Lina Khatib,
Time,
19 June 2025
-
Republican leaders there have long seen many local school boards as hostile to potential charter school operators, resulting in a steady push to find ways for operators to apply to the state.—
Kate Payne,
The Orlando Sentinel,
18 June 2025
Adjective
-
Macroeconomic Vulnerability Broadcom’s stock has exhibited lower resilience during unfavorable market conditions compared to the overall market.—
Trefis Team,
Forbes.com,
27 June 2025
-
The deal allegedly promised Netanyahu positive coverage in Mozes’ newspaper Yediot Ahronoth while the Israeli Prime Minister would consider legislation unfavorable to rival newspaper Israel Hayom.—
Chad de Guzman,
Time,
26 June 2025
Noun
-
Lutnick said the share gives the U.S. president veto power over any decision to relocate U.S. Steel's headquarters, move the company outside the U.S., rename U.S. Steel, transfer production or jobs outside the U.S., and close or idle plants before certain time frames.—
Spencer Kimball,
CNBC,
16 June 2025
-
The president can also name one of the corporate board’s independent directors, and has veto power over the other two.—
Megan Poinski,
Forbes.com,
16 June 2025
Noun
-
The opposite is true for the Southern Hemisphere, which on the June solstice has its shortest day and longest night.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
19 June 2025
-
In an era when teams have been shedding non-player jobs to save money, Walter has done the opposite. 4. Find stars to build around Clayton Kershaw.—
Fabian Ardaya,
New York Times,
19 June 2025
Noun
-
Beadle is at a distinct disadvantage in aspiring to one spot where Brighton have an abundance of depth.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
27 June 2025
-
This leaves key flexibility providers, including batteries, demand response, and distributed energy resources, at a disadvantage when competing for market revenues.—
Elena Bou,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Verb
-
Kiser's attorneys also filed a notice to dismiss some agencies from the lawsuit, and the court sealed a declaration Kiser wrote about this case.—
Melina Khan,
USA Today,
18 June 2025
-
Operation Ajax, a joint CIA-British operation, convinced the Shah of Iran, the country’s monarch, to dismiss Mossadegh and drive him from office by force.—
Jeffrey Fields,
The Conversation,
18 June 2025
Verb
-
But the company denies claims that its equipment sparked the 2019 fire, which tore through Sylmar, Porter Ranch and Granada Hills — all suburbs of Los Angeles — burning 8,799 acres.—
Melody Petersen,
Los Angeles Times,
28 June 2025
-
Tucker denied all allegations of misconduct in a statement on X on Jan. 30.—
Anna Lazarus Caplan,
People.com,
27 June 2025
Verb
-
In response, Congress passed legislation seeking to limit a president's ability to wage war against Iran, which was again quickly rejected by Trump.—
Mariam Khan,
ABC News,
23 June 2025
-
That kind of backlash prompted officials in La Mesa, Oceanside, Vista and Carlsbad to reject digital billboard proposals.—
David Garrick,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negative. Accessed 2 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share