1
as in hostile
marked by opposition or ill will
classes that hopefully will change the negative attitude that some students have toward the recent immigrants
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in unfavorable
opposed to one's interests
the almost universally negative reaction to the book
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in veto
a vote or decision against something
in the absence of an unambiguous negative from the commander, we decided to continue on the mission
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in opposite
something that is as different as possible from something else
the desire to control another person is actually the negative of real love
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in disadvantage
a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success
the main negative of this job is that I have to get up at 4:30 a.m.
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to dismiss
to reject by or as if by a vote
although the rebuttal was very eloquent, the jury negatived it in favor of the prosecution's argument we promptly negatived the idea of having pizza again for dinner, noting that we had already had it for three nights that week
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to deny
to declare not to be true
the governor's press secretary promptly negatived the rumor that he was not intending to run for reelection
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to reject
to show unwillingness to accept, do, engage in, or agree to
even though I had originally negatived the invitation, Mom thought I should go anyway
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to offset
to balance with an equal force so as to make ineffective
no amount of flattery is likely to negative that overheard insult
Synonyms & Similar Words
5
as in to refuse
to be unwilling to grant
ultimately, we negatived the request for a personal loan
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
a negative impact
negative consequences
terrible consequences
awful consequences
nasty consequences
unfavorable consequences
disadvantageous consequences
negative reaction
negative thoughts
negative feelings
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 negative
Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025
Who wants their grandchildren to emulate such limited vocabulary, negative language and divisive rhetoric?
—Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
So all our hard drives, including all the negatives from before the digital days, are all stored in the house.
—Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
Allison Pohle, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022
But with sales growth expected to go from triple digits in 2021 to negative this year, shares have tanked to a record low recently.
—Yueqi Yang, Time, 20 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for negative
Adjective
As a result, school districts across the state are facing program cuts and layoffs that will have a negative impact on our schools.
—Staff Report, Hartford Courant, 22 May 2025
Who wants their grandchildren to emulate such limited vocabulary, negative language and divisive rhetoric?
—Christine Ledbetter, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2025
Noun
And in the latest YouGov/Yahoo poll, conducted April 25-28 among 1,597 respondents, his approval dropped from 44 percent in March to 42 percent, while disapproval rose from 50 percent to 53 percent, widening his net negative from –6 to –11.
—Martha McHardy, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025
So all our hard drives, including all the negatives from before the digital days, are all stored in the house.
—Ari Daniel, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025
Verb
And passengers boarding international flights to the U.S. no longer need to test negative a day before departure or prove recovery from Covid in the past 90 days.
—Allison Pohle, WSJ, 2 Aug. 2022
But with sales growth expected to go from triple digits in 2021 to negative this year, shares have tanked to a record low recently.
—Yueqi Yang, Time, 20 Apr. 2022
See All Example Sentences for negative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negative
Adjective
-
The game is scheduled to tip off at 8 p.m. ET and Pacers fans are sure to bring the energy and create a hostile atmosphere for New York.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
26 May 2025
-
Some of countries in the continent that are rich in uranium, such as Niger and Gabon, may be delicate or difficult to deal with in the near term as both underwent military coups recently, with Niger turning hostile toward the French and more toward the Russians.—
Ariel Cohen,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
Adjective
-
Comparable sales for the quarter decreased 1.7% blamed on unfavorable weather earlier in the year, while pro and online sales grew.—
Catherine Muccigrosso,
Charlotte Observer,
21 May 2025
-
Her biggest unfavorable numbers from those surveyed came from voters in parts of Northern California, at 60%, and Orange County, with 57%.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
14 May 2025
Noun
-
Some private companies have what amounts to veto power over any move employees make with their shares, a way to exercise greater control over their cap tables.—
Hayden Field,
CNBC,
23 May 2025
-
Opponents of the governor’s veto believe the expenditure of that energy is necessary and point to efforts in Washington to unravel DEI as a reason Maryland should commit itself to study reparations.—
Colin Pascal,
Baltimore Sun,
22 May 2025
Noun
-
Known on the international festival circuit for his epically minimalist features with bladder-busting running times, his movies are challenging, high-art dramas made for a very select few — the opposite of the flashy, ADHD-friendly content found on streamers.—
Jordan Mintzer,
HollywoodReporter,
24 May 2025
-
But Toile Blanche, the Leroy Brothers’ longtime hotel in Provence, is the opposite of all that.—
Ann Abel,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
Noun
-
How Credit Cards Fit Into Modern Financial Strategies From a consumer perspective, there are advantages and disadvantages to using credit cards for bill payments.—
Rick Watkin,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
-
Its onerous regulations put every single EU company at a disadvantage globally with technological competitors.—
Paul Du Quenoy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 May 2025
Verb
-
The charges were dismissed because West’s cause of death was not determined, and some evidence had been illegally obtained. (Netflix) Lewis was convicted of six counts of mail fraud in a 1981 credit card scheme in Kansas City.—
Stephanie Nolasco,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2025
-
Baldwin — who denied pulling the trigger — was also put on trial for involuntary manslaughter last July, but the case was dismissed after the judge learned that prosecutors had withheld evidence from the defense.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
24 May 2025
Verb
-
No matter the medium, there’s no denying that art stirs the senses unlike most forms of expression.—
Roger Sands,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
-
The Boise City Council denied that appeal in April in a 4-1 vote, with Council Member Luci Willits the lone dissenter.—
Nick Rosenberger,
Idaho Statesman,
23 May 2025
Verb
-
Brentford have rejected an offer of around €9million (£7.6m; $10.2m) from Bayer Leverkusen for their first-choice goalkeeper Mark Flekken but negotiations are ongoing over a potential deal.—
Jay Harris,
New York Times,
30 May 2025
-
In December, the state Legislature initially rejected the plan because of funding ambiguities.—
Theo Burman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negative. Accessed 2 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share