1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
tried to reason with the untoward child
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in uncontrollable
given to resisting control or discipline by others
a program for untoward teenagers that is designed to give them the kind of discipline that their parents were unable or unwilling to administer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adverse
opposed to one's interests
achieved great success as an artist despite growing up in a very untoward milieu
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4
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
unfortunately, one of the symptoms of dementia can be a tendency to make untoward and often shocking remarks
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of untoward
Thankfully, there’s nothing so untoward about the allegations facing the Clippers now.
—
Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
None of these inspections turned up anything untoward.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
Nor is there anything untoward and deceptive about it.
—Adam Gelb, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Nearly two years after Denny Crum's death and an untoward incident that left his gravesite monument at the bottom of the Red Sea, the legendary University of Louisville men's basketball coach's final resting place is nearing completion.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for untoward
Mirjam Swanson, Oc Register, 15 Feb. 2026
None of these inspections turned up anything untoward.
—Nate Anderson, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
Nor is there anything untoward and deceptive about it.
—Adam Gelb, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Aug. 2025
Nearly two years after Denny Crum's death and an untoward incident that left his gravesite monument at the bottom of the Red Sea, the legendary University of Louisville men's basketball coach's final resting place is nearing completion.
—Killian Baarlaer, The Courier-Journal, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for untoward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untoward
Adjective
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In others, the rebellious teenager drinks elsewhere.—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
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For a distillery known as much for its rebellious personality as its whisky, bringing back a bottle called Yellow Submarine feels pretty on-brand.—
Emily Price,
Forbes.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
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She was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease eight years ago, a neurological disorder that damages brain cells, leading to symptoms like uncontrollable movements, tremors, and balance issues.—
Madeline Montgomery,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
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At the same time, severe OCD, intrusive thoughts and uncontrollable crying spells took a major toll on Cust’s mental health.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
30 May 2026
Adjective
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DeVries also feels that seniors should not hesitate to file police reports to document adverse incidents.—
Karie Angell Luc,
Chicago Tribune,
5 June 2026
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The drug is designed to rapidly block platelets from clumping and restricting blood flow, lessening the adverse outcomes of a heart attack.—
Justin Zacks,
CNBC,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Others, however, said naming the animal after the president was inappropriate.—
Michael Sinkewicz,
FOXNews.com,
4 June 2026
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Enforcement of inappropriate corner crossing will continue to be difficult for FWP, but Callaghan notes that enforcement is only one part of the relationship balance that FWP Director Clark noted between private property rights and public-access rights.—
Andrew McKean,
Outdoor Life,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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But beyond this picturesque scene, there is a volatile combination of brutal rebel violence and a burgeoning Ebola outbreak.—
Gabrielle Emanuel,
NPR,
6 June 2026
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Attacks by the Allied Democratic Forces, a rebel group allied with the Islamic State group, and a coalition of ethnic militias also have hindered the response.—
Mark Banchereau,
Chicago Tribune,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Public opinion towards it has sharply worsened in the last year, with majorities in most countries polled having unfavorable views towards it, and confidence in Netanyahu has plummeted.—
Tom Chivers,
semafor.com,
8 June 2026
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Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, 80% had a somewhat or very unfavorable view.—
Philip Wang,
Time,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Years of improper cleaning can turn them into a petri dish rather than a pretty place to chop veggies.—
Heather Bien,
Southern Living,
5 June 2026
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The issue stems from the improper application of primer, which is necessary to ensure proper bonding between the glass panel and the sliding frame, the recall report states.—
Michelle Del Rey,
USA Today,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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Still, this is a contrary call.—
Jim Cramer,
CNBC,
20 May 2026
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The desperate, contrary need to be different — to be florid — pulled me completely out of the story.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
22 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Untoward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untoward. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
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