unfavorable

adjective

un·​fa·​vor·​able ˌən-ˈfā-v(ə-)rə-bəl 

-ˈfā-vər-bəl

1

a

: opposed, contrary

b

: expressing disapproval : negative

unfavorable reviews

2

: not propitious : disadvantageous

an unfavorable business climate

3

: not pleasing

an unfavorable feature of the plan

unfavorableness noun

unfavorably

ˌən-ˈfā-v(ə-)rə-blē 

-ˈfā-vər-bəl

adverb

Synonyms

• adverse
• counter
• disadvantageous
• hostile
• inimical
• negative
• prejudicial
• unfriendly
• unsympathetic
• untoward

Examples of unfavorable in a Sentence

She formed an unfavorable impression of him.

the company chose to accept the unfavorable settlement rather than spend more money on legal fees

Recent Examples on the Web

If this leads to an acquittal, and to unfavorable comparisons to O. J. Simpson’s lawyers, Steel is unlikely to care. —Charles Bethea, New Yorker, 28 Apr. 2025

Further, parental reaction to the plan has also been unfavorable. —Savanah Jackson, New York Daily News, 27 Apr. 2025

Multiple polls, including one by Marquette University Law School this month, found that 60% of people surveyed had an unfavorable view of Musk and 58% disapproved of his DOGE work. —Alan Ohnsman, Forbes.com, 25 Apr. 2025

Schumer's 39 percent favorable and 49 percent unfavorable ratings pale in comparison to Ocasio-Cortez's 47 percent favorable and 33 percent unfavorable ratings. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing unfavorable

• in an unfavorable light

Rhymes for unfavorable

• favorable

Kids Definition

unfavorable

adjective

un·​fa·​vor·​able ˌən-ˈfāv-(ə-)rə-bəl 

1

: expressing disapproval

unfavorable comments

2

: likely to make difficult or unpleasant

unfavorable weather for a camping trip

unfavorably

-blē 

adverb