Synonyms of untoward

untoward

adjective

ˌən-ˈtō-ərd 

1

as in rebellious

given to resisting authority or another's control

tried to reason with the untoward child

Synonyms & Similar Words

• rebellious
• rebel
• contrary
• defiant
• stubborn
• willful
• obstreperous
• mischievous
• wayward
• naughty
• contumacious
• intractable
• insubordinate
• disobedient
• unruly
• recalcitrant
• refractory
• adamant
• ungovernable
• rigid
• dogged
• froward
• balky
• restive
• bad
• unrelenting
• dissident
• uncontrollable
• incompliant
• wild
• rude
• recusant
• insurgent
• resistant
• uncooperative
• mutinous
• peevish
• perverse
• monkeying
• unmanageable
• obstinate
• noncooperative
• mulish
• obdurate
• pertinacious
• unmannerly
• uncompromising
• disorderly
• errant
• negativistic
• wrongheaded
• impertinent
• implacable
• fractious
• inflexible
• adamantine
• ungracious
• immovable
• opinionated
• unyielding
• disrespectful
• impudent
• unbending
• headstrong
• inconsiderate
• discourteous
• undisciplined
• uncouth
• uncivil
• insolent
• impolite
• hardheaded
• self-willed
• nonconformist
• ornery
• pigheaded
• misbehaving
• ill-natured
• ill-mannered
• ill-bred
• monkeyish

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amenable
• agreeable
• cooperative
• obedient
• amiable
• docile
• conformable
• compliant
• deferential
• acquiescent
• submissive
• tractable
• behaved
• yielding
• biddable
• ruly
• servile
• obliging
• polite
• respectful
• courteous
• proper
• well-bred
• disciplined
• obsequious
• orderly
• slavish
• mannerly
• subservient
• controllable
• decorous
• manageable
• kowtowing
• trainable
• governable

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• uncontrollable
• out of hand
• stubborn
• unmanageable
• wayward
• intractable
• recalcitrant
• unruly
• willful
• refractory
• difficult
• naughty
• rebellious
• ungovernable
• incontrollable
• headstrong
• contrary
• froward
• perverse
• uncontrolled
• incorrigible
• obstinate
• intransigent
• mulish
• wild
• obdurate
• stiff
• unpunished
• undisciplined
• boisterous
• irrepressible
• rowdy
• insubordinate
• disobedient
• opinionated
• self-willed
• hardheaded
• pigheaded
• rambunctious
• bullheaded
• indocile
• stiff-necked
• misbehaving

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• controllable
• manageable
• tractable
• obedient
• docile
• compliant
• governable
• reasonable
• submissive
• yielding
• receptive
• well-behaved
• responsive
• accepting
• willing
• pliable
• placable
• temperate
• trainable
• persuadable

3

as in adverse

opposed to one's interests

achieved great success as an artist despite growing up in a very untoward milieu

Synonyms & Similar Words

• adverse
• unfavorable
• negative
• hostile
• harmful
• detrimental
• damaging
• destructive
• prejudicial
• threatening
• disadvantageous
• bad
• inimical
• unfriendly
• dangerous
• hazardous
• counter
• risky
• unsympathetic
• deleterious
• baneful
• poisonous
• conflicting
• unsafe
• malignant
• injurious
• evil
• pernicious
• troublesome
• offensive
• fatal
• lethal
• baleful
• noxious
• hurtful
• ruinous
• opposing
• perilous
• unhealthy
• murderous
• ill
• antagonistic
• slanderous
• resistant
• uncongenial
• resisting
• inhospitable
• defamatory
• uncooperative
• parlous
• intolerant
• scathing
• calumnious
• wounding
• imperiling
• jeopardizing
• detractive
• antipathetic
• counteracting
• competing
• countering

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• favorable
• positive
• advantageous
• beneficial
• sympathetic
• supportive
• friendly
• useful
• good
• propitious
• harmless
• innocuous
• helpful
• innocent
• well-disposed
• nonfatal
• inoffensive
• nonthreatening
• nondestructive
• benign
• agreeable
• nonlethal
• tolerant
• congenial
• understanding
• amiable
• friendly
• complying
• amicable
• cordial
• unresistant
• hospitable
• affable
• benignant

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• inappropriate
• improper
• unsuitable
• wrong
• incorrect
• unhappy
• unseemly
• unfit
• unfortunate
• irrelevant
• unbecoming
• amiss
• incongruous
• infelicitous
• perverse
• out of the way
• indecorous
• out of place
• unacceptable
• inapt
• inept
• bad
• inapposite
• inconsistent
• graceless
• awkward
• unapt
• untimely
• inopportune
• naughty
• unseasonable
• extraneous
• malapropos
• immaterial
• incompatible
• forbidden
• uncongenial
• sinful
• irrelative
• blameworthy
• inapplicable
• blamable
• censurable
• mismatched
• unsatisfactory
• prohibited
• gauche
• ungraceful
• disallowed
• barred
• proscribed
• misbecoming
• outlawed
• interdicted
• banned

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• appropriate
• proper
• suitable
• correct
• right
• felicitous
• relevant
• becoming
• relative
• fitting
• meet
• timely
• applicable
• happy
• opportune
• fortunate
• genteel
• decorous
• apposite
• apt
• congenial
• fit
• material
• seasonable
• permitted
• seemly
• harmonious
• befitting
• compatible
• acceptable
• satisfactory
• pointed
• adequate
• germane
• pat
• authorized
• all right
• kosher
• endorsed
• fine
• tolerable
• approved
• apropos
• sanctioned
• exemplary
• respectable
• allowed
• OK
• licensed
• decent
• creditable
• promoted
• supported
• commendable
• blameless
• encouraged
• irreproachable
• passable
• consonant
• balanced
• abetted
• congruous
• companionate

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of untoward

All sorts of untoward usage can be envisioned. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 30 May 2026

Nothing heavy, nothing untoward. — Vivian Salama, The Atlantic, 9 Mar. 2026

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

Podcast

Get Word of the Day delivered to your inbox!