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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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
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
See All Example Sentences for untoward
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
See All Example Sentences for untoward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untoward
Adjective
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This could bring about sudden ideas, or trigger rebellious impulses and creative imagination.
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In 2000 at age 15, he was sent to live in Australia with a host family because his father thought Zhang was too rebellious to stay in China.
Adjective
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The cold water gasp reflex is completely involuntary and uncontrollable.
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This is an ignoble war making monsters and fools out of its participants, and against the uncontrollable weapons that are dragons, everyone’s resolve is crumbling.
Adjective
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In pharmacogenomics, understanding how genes affect drug efficacy helps doctors prescribe the right drug at the optimal dose while reducing adverse reactions.
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Johnson was undone by revelations of his conduct during Covid lockdowns and Truss by the adverse market reaction to her 2022 mini-Budget.
Adjective
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Realbotix said the platform includes education-specific safety controls, district oversight, and safeguards designed to prevent inappropriate responses.
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That meant that anybody who’s doing anything that could be called terrorism, including eco terrorists, however inappropriate the term, was going to be a target.
Adjective
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Starmer had previously vowed to stand in any formal Labour leadership race triggered by rebel lawmakers who feating a 2029 election wipeout sought to replace him.
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Many rebel groups are offshoots of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC, which had been fighting to overthrow the government since the 1960s and had been the country's largest guerrilla organization.
Adjective
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Dealing with stubborn dark spots?
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But when the adults decide to cancel Christmas and the magical star fades away, a stubborn little bird named Pikkuli sets off on a winter adventure with friends to find the Starlight Reindeer and bring back the light.
Adjective
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The undertaking might seem crazy to those who diss the fight game or have unfavorable reviews of the current administration.
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Negotiating power is harder to see—until conditions become unfavorable and someone needs to act against the system their balance sheet depends on.
Adjective
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Experts say a lack of access to information and improper staff training are major barriers for blind travelers.
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Although Ashley had alleged things like malice, ill-will and improper motives by Adam, that still fell short of proving that Adam knew that his statements were false.
Cite this Entry
“Untoward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untoward. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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