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
Paul Davidson, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, many hospitals and medical practices are struggling with working capital, rising costs and negative operating margins.
—Sara Ratner, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
The presence of parental control in Webroot Total Protection is a net negative.
—PCMAG, 14 Mar. 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
Meanwhile, the negative effects on the economy could be significant, prompting the Fed to lower rates sooner and more sharply.
—Paul Davidson, USA Today, 17 Apr. 2025
Meanwhile, many hospitals and medical practices are struggling with working capital, rising costs and negative operating margins.
—Sara Ratner, Forbes.com, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
For the Titans, there’s no denying that the quarterback position has been a net negative the past two years.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes, 25 Mar. 2025
The presence of parental control in Webroot Total Protection is a net negative.
—PCMAG, 14 Mar. 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
-
John Shine described to me a research trip to the hostile mountain environs of Tasmania, where snakes stay under cover except for the 20 or 30 warm days each year.—
Stephen S. Hall,
Time,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Union members shared other experiences and stories, including those of an increasingly hostile work environment for some.—
Molly Guthrey,
Twin Cities,
19 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Trump has derided the outlets as being unfavorable to him and a drain on taxpayer money.—
Bloomberg News,
Boston Herald,
15 Apr. 2025
-
According to a Quinnipiac poll released in mid-March, only 7 percent of American voters have a favorable opinion of Putin, while 81 percent have an unfavorable opinion of him.—
Eric Jason Martin Tanya Pérez Ted Blaisdell,
New York Times,
12 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
On Friday, the state’s high court ruled 4-3 that the veto was lawful, with all of the liberal justices in the majority.—
Jack Birle,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Apr. 2025
-
The call for a veto came as those same attorneys announced nearly two dozen new lawsuits Monday against one Catholic high school in Baltimore County.—
Bryan P. Sears,
Baltimore Sun,
15 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Or the opposite, how a finished piece of clothing can be artfully and efficiently explained on paper.—
Rachel Elspeth Gross,
Forbes.com,
19 Apr. 2025
-
However, research on online speech shows the opposite to be the case: Regulating online speech protects free speech.—
Michael Gregory,
The Conversation,
17 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Mitch Raposo: Mitch Raposo needed to negate an eight-inch reach disadvantage against Sumudaerji.—
Trent Reinsmith,
Forbes.com,
12 Apr. 2025
-
Despite its disadvantages, single living is on the rise.—
Peter McGraw,
The Conversation,
10 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
On March 4, the day the order to show cause was to be heard, the Alameda County District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case.—
Nate Gartrell,
Mercury News,
19 Apr. 2025
-
Heyman dismissed fans on social media who have failed to give Rollins his flowers, saying he’s seen pro wrestlers fail in the ring and seen praise on social media for them while others spout nonsense while ignoring historical facts.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
19 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
An immigration judge denied her bond request Wednesday, citing her as a flight risk and danger to the community.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Citing information from an informant who officials have said is credible, the Department of Homeland Security has alleged that Abrego Garcia is a member of the MS-13 gang, a claim his family and attorneys deny.—
Faris Tanyos,
CBS News,
17 Apr. 2025
Verb
-
There are plenty of glaring examples, such as Steve Jobs and Google being rejected by some of the world’s most renowned VCs (https://www.bvp.com/anti-portfolio).—
Dileep Rao,
Forbes.com,
9 Apr. 2025
-
Superior Court Judge Craig Collins from neighboring Gaston county also rejected it after Tench’s friends and family — his mother, sister and aunts — submitted and read aloud letters underlining the effect Tench’s disappearance and apparent death have had.—
Julia Coin,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negative. Accessed 26 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share