unfavorable
adjective
un·fa·vor·able
ˌən-ˈfā-v(ə-)rə-bəl 
-ˈfā-vər-bəl
2
: not propitious : disadvantageous
an unfavorable business climate
3
: not pleasing
an unfavorable feature of the plan
unfavorableness
noun
Synonyms
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
The dire situation was prompted by a mix of factors, including unfavorable weather conditions and a supply crunch in the cocoa hubs of the world.
—
Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 4 Apr. 2024
The group also expects significant declines in production due to unfavorable weather conditions and diseases in top-producing countries, noting that older trees are producing lower cacao yields.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2024
In January, Matthew Spivey, the orchestra’s C.E.O., sent out an in-house memo saying that unfavorable financial conditions would require sweeping cutbacks.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
The move marks the end of a run that began pre-pandemic in May 2019, when the company filed its intent to go public, only to postpone the plan only a few months later amid unfavorable market conditions.
—Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
The launch had originally been scheduled for Friday, but it was rescheduled several times due to unfavorable weather conditions.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 2 Apr. 2024
Apart from security concerns, some lawmakers, researchers and critics of TikTok posit the app suppresses content unfavorable to Beijing, which TikTok denies.
—Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
The first: Numerous contests are in states with demographic profiles decidedly unfavorable to Haley but right in Donald Trump’s white, working-class wheelhouse — such as Alabama and Oklahoma.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 5 Mar. 2024
In other cases, people wanting to move may decide to stay put rather than brave a housing market unfavorable to pets.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024
Prarthana Prakash, Fortune Europe, 4 Apr. 2024
The group also expects significant declines in production due to unfavorable weather conditions and diseases in top-producing countries, noting that older trees are producing lower cacao yields.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 2 Apr. 2024
In January, Matthew Spivey, the orchestra’s C.E.O., sent out an in-house memo saying that unfavorable financial conditions would require sweeping cutbacks.
—Alex Ross, The New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2024
The move marks the end of a run that began pre-pandemic in May 2019, when the company filed its intent to go public, only to postpone the plan only a few months later amid unfavorable market conditions.
—Erik Hayden, The Hollywood Reporter, 2 Apr. 2024
The launch had originally been scheduled for Friday, but it was rescheduled several times due to unfavorable weather conditions.
—Laura Daniella Sepulveda, The Arizona Republic, 2 Apr. 2024
Apart from security concerns, some lawmakers, researchers and critics of TikTok posit the app suppresses content unfavorable to Beijing, which TikTok denies.
—Haleluya Hadero, Quartz, 13 Mar. 2024
The first: Numerous contests are in states with demographic profiles decidedly unfavorable to Haley but right in Donald Trump’s white, working-class wheelhouse — such as Alabama and Oklahoma.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 5 Mar. 2024
In other cases, people wanting to move may decide to stay put rather than brave a housing market unfavorable to pets.
—Kate Talerico, The Mercury News, 29 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'unfavorable.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1548, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Phrases Containing unfavorable
Dictionary Entries Near unfavorable
Cite this Entry
“Unfavorable.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unfavorable. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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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
More from Merriam-Webster on unfavorable
Nglish: Translation of unfavorable for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of unfavorable for Arabic Speakers
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