1
as in dislike
a strong feeling of not liking or approving
made no attempt to hide his disfavor of his wife's relatives
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disapproval
refusal to accept as right or desirable
their suggestion was met with disfavor by virtually all of the other club members
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success
the defendant certainly acted to his own disfavor with his frequent outbursts
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dislike
to feel dislike for
a style of stage acting that is disfavored by most theatergoers today
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to criticize
to hold an unfavorable opinion of
polls showing that this political candidate is highly disfavored by most voters
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disfavor
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2025
Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, boasted on Fox News that the FCC would keep ramping up its efforts to punish outlets the administration disfavors.
—Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Dan Daley, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disfavor
Noun
Its songs are filled with workingmen getting a raw deal—losing a job, losing a mortgaged house to a bank, owing money, accepting work for a gangster, bearing the burden of a boss’s disfavor, being broke and turning to crime, trying to live with the trauma of military service in the Vietnam War.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2025
Brendan Carr, the chair of the Federal Communications Commission, boasted on Fox News that the FCC would keep ramping up its efforts to punish outlets the administration disfavors.
—Foreign Affairs, 21 Oct. 2025
Verb
Those amendments were designed to stop partisan gerrymandering and require that maps not be drawn to favor or disfavor a political party or incumbent.
—Dan Daley, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Apr. 2026
No apportionment plan or individual district shall be drawn with the intent to favor or disfavor a political party or an incumbent.
—Oren Oppenheim, ABC News, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for disfavor
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disfavor
Noun
-
In addition to yellow sticky notes to signify their votes, participants had access to pink sticky notes to indicate dislike.—
Eva Flowe
May 29,
Charlotte Observer,
29 May 2026
-
And Chicago in 2024 saw a very high-profile effort to establish mayoral recall powers, motivated by dislike for a new progressive mayor, much like Aurora.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
Trump used expletives to convey his disapproval of Israel’s plans, which threatened to upend negotiations with Iran.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
In another poll conducted between May 22 and May 26, Trump’s disapproval rating was of 59%, two points lower than this week's poll.—
Fernando Cervantes Jr,
USA Today,
2 June 2026
Noun
-
The conclusion for Gen Z is that they have been handed a giant disadvantage, with no mentoring in the remote-work era to plug the gap.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
-
Former Iowa party chair Scott Brennan argued in his pitch that Republicans in his state are guaranteed to hold their contest first no matter what, putting Democratic candidates across the state at a broad disadvantage.—
Francesca Chambers,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The guys who started this country, some of them hated each other with just as much venom and outrage and indignance as political players hate each other today.—
Television Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
29 May 2026
-
Your cat might hate you for it, but the extra precautions can make stops and emergencies much safer.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
Many have expressed their displeasure on social media.—
Pete Grathoff,
Kansas City Star,
1 June 2026
-
While Joel’s display of defiance was reportedly due to his displeasure with a film crew lighting his audience, Wallen’s piano uprising seems to have stemmed from some good, old-fashioned technical difficulties.—
Joseph Hudak,
Rolling Stone,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
That's because the cost of jet fuel — which can account for about 30% of airlines' total expenses — has soared during the war.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
-
The caller told them a family member had been detained, which was untrue, and demanded money for legal expenses.—
Kassia Bonesteel,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Noun
-
Monday showed why the Middle East’s generational hatreds are so often treacherous for American presidents.—
Kevin Liptak,
CNN Money,
2 June 2026
-
More deeply, San Diego’s Muslims have been puzzling over the roots of the hatred that sent two young men into a holy place with the intent to commit mass murder.—
Roxana Popescu,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
30 May 2026
Noun
-
Political observers think Talarico could surge to the fore in the primary despite, or perhaps because of, his outsider status.—
Julia Mueller,
The Hill,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Using that unscientific tool to gauge his Texas Rangers, the club after the first month of the season remains unchanged despites many changes: Average, and a stunning disappointment.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
11 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Disfavor.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disfavor. Accessed 5 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
