disapprove

verb

dis·​ap·​prove ˌdis-ə-ˈprüv 

disapproved; disapproving; disapproves

transitive verb

1

: to pass unfavorable judgment on

2

: to refuse approval to : reject

intransitive verb

: to feel or express disapproval

disapprover noun

disapprovingly

ˌdis-ə-ˈprü-viŋ-lē 

adverb

Synonyms

• decline
• deny
• disallow
• negative
• nix
• refuse
• reject
• reprobate
• withhold

Examples of disapprove in a Sentence

She married him even though her parents disapproved.

The treaty was disapproved by the Senate.

Recent Examples on the Web

The health care industry enjoyed a brief spike in popularity during the pandemic, but its approval rating as measured by Gallup has fallen back to 31 percent, with 51 percent disapproving. —Dylan Scott, Vox, 6 Dec. 2024

But in this week's poll, those numbers were exactly reversed: 64 percent of Democrats approved of the pardon, and 21 percent disapproved. —Nathaniel Rakich, ABC News, 5 Dec. 2024

Seventy-nine percent of Republicans disapprove of it, the poll shows. —Mark R. Weaver, Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2024

Not long after the protests, a national poll showed that forty per cent of Argentineans disapproved of Milei and fifty-five per cent approved of him. —Jon Lee Anderson, The New Yorker, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1562, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

disapprove

verb

dis·​ap·​prove ˌdis-ə-ˈprüv 

1

: to dislike or be against someone or something

disapproved the child's conduct

disapproves of smoking

2

: to refuse to give approval to : reject

disapproved the architect's plans

disapprovingly

-ˈprü-viŋ-lē 

adverb