negative 1 of 3

1
2

negative

2 of 3

noun

negative

3 of 3

verb

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
3
4
5

Try This Instead

For
Try This
a negative impact
an adverse impact
a harmful impact
an averse impact
an undesirable impact
a detrimental impact
negative consequences
terrible consequences
awful consequences
nasty consequences
unfavorable consequences
disadvantageous consequences
negative reaction
averse reaction
contrary reaction
bad reaction
unhappy reaction
disappointing reaction
negative thoughts
pessimistic thoughts
unpleasant thoughts
miserable thoughts
unhappy thoughts
horrible thoughts
negative feelings
unpleasant feelings
sad feelings
dark feelings
depressive feelings
pessimistic 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
Adjective
Careful application and timing are important to minimize negative environmental impacts. Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 5 Apr. 2025 There has been quite a bit of negative activity around libraries, specifically around organized groups, introducing legislation to limit people’s access to materials in library collections. J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 5 Apr. 2025
Noun
What To Know Almost every pollster now shows Trump's net approval rating in the negatives, meaning more people disapprove of his job performance than approve. Paul Du Quenoy, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 Mar. 2025 But for the first time in several years, there appear to be more positives than negatives entering the season. Jen McCaffrey, New York Times, 27 Mar. 2025
Verb
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 In response, Moody’s Investors Service recently lowered its outlook for the sector to negative. Nick Sargen, Forbes, 20 Sep. 2021 See All Example Sentences for negative
Recent Examples of Synonyms for negative
Adjective
  • Andreas typically waits until there have been three instances of potential hostile communication before asking her friend or colleague if everything is OK.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 28 Mar. 2025
  • Home to one of the world’s largest refugee populations – most of them from Afghanistan – Pakistan has not always welcomed the foreigners, subjecting them to hostile living conditions and threatening deportation over the years.
    Sophia Saifi, CNN Money, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • This line of thinking drives our perception of an unfavorable risk skew, which leads to the third recurring theme: diversification.
    Jeffrey Schulze, Forbes.com, 4 Apr. 2025
  • Why would foreigners accept such an unfavorable deal?
    John Cassidy, New Yorker, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Before this recent trend of Congressional acquiescence, Republican President Ronald Reagan issued 78 vetoes in his eight years in office.
    David M. Drucker, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The General Assembly overrode Holcomb's veto later that year.
    Arika Herron, Axios, 3 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • If addiction is the opposite of connection, then in that moment everything’s connected for her.
    Zoe Papelis, Vulture, 8 Apr. 2025
  • How investors can adjust their perspective Yet while investors who stay the course stand to reap the biggest rewards, we’re wired to do the opposite, according to behavioral finance.
    Lorie Konish, CNBC, 7 Apr. 2025
Noun
  • Federal cases brought in Texas appeal to the US Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit, a far-right court that routinely interprets the law in creative ways to benefit right-wing causes and the Republican Party, something likely to put anyone trying to stop a deportation at a disadvantage.
    Ian Millhiser, Vox, 1 Apr. 2025
  • This has created an uneven playing field that places traditional lodging establishments at a disadvantage.
    Sean Krofssik, Hartford Courant, 31 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • The company filed two motions to dismiss the case, one for lack of jurisdiction and the other on grounds that consumer fraud laws do not govern editorial speech.
    Todd Spangler, Variety, 7 Apr. 2025
  • The Trump administration is investigating government lawyers who prosecuted Jan. 6 rioters — and will do the same for prosecutors who refused to dismiss corruption charges against Mayor Eric Adams of New York.
    Michael S. Schmidt, New York Times, 7 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • At her appearance, the Court denied the state’s motion to detain Formella pre-trial and released her with conditions including no entry into Downers Grove South High School and no contact with anyone under the age of eighteen.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 5 Apr. 2025
  • Mahmoud Khalil: Judge denies Trump administration's bid to move his case to Louisiana U.S. officials have justified expelling Venezuelans to a notorious prison in El Salvador because of their tattoos.
    Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The company must take the job listing down and reject all the candidates that applied.
    Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 1 Apr. 2025
  • Two lower courts had already rejected the legal challenge by Democrat Josh Kaul, who argues that Musk’s offer violates a state law.
    Scott Bauer, Chicago Tribune, 31 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negative. Accessed 13 Apr. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on negative

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!