1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
tried to reason with the untoward child
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2
as in uncontrollable
given to resisting control or discipline by others
a program for untoward teenagers that is designed to give them the kind of discipline that their parents were unable or unwilling to administer
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in adverse
opposed to one's interests
achieved great success as an artist despite growing up in a very untoward milieu
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4
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
unfortunately, one of the symptoms of dementia can be a tendency to make untoward and often shocking remarks
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of untoward
And the ratios in the new box have the right numbers—no untoward gaps to reduce your forward momentum.
—
Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 26 Jan. 2023
Emmy Rose took a moment to think about how many of her grandmother’s songs accuse her husband, Doolittle, of untoward behavior with other women.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2022
These stories are often stitched together to hint at something untoward lurking beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2022
Believing that any untoward behavior can be compartmentalized away is a mindset of the past.
—Marie-Caroline Chauvet, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for untoward 
Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 26 Jan. 2023
Emmy Rose took a moment to think about how many of her grandmother’s songs accuse her husband, Doolittle, of untoward behavior with other women.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2022
These stories are often stitched together to hint at something untoward lurking beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2022
Believing that any untoward behavior can be compartmentalized away is a mindset of the past.
—Marie-Caroline Chauvet, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022
See all Example Sentences for untoward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untoward
Adjective
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The wildly rebellious press across Europe are a vibrant sign of its free speech.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN,
14 Feb. 2025
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Luna will meet with rebellious Uranus in a surprising trine, bringing a jolt of excitement and unexpected revelations to your love life.—
Valerie Mesa,
People.com,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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But it’s almost carried by an uncontrollable wave that his eighth album arrives, to once again redefine the limits of the genre.—
Billboard France,
Billboard,
14 Feb. 2025
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If deployed in critical applications—such as power grid management or financial trading systems—the potential for unexpected and uncontrollable outcomes would increase significantly.—
Henry Papadatos,
TIME,
10 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Sitting for too long can lead to a host of adverse health effects, but taking short movement breaks throughout the day can offset these risks.—
Elizabeth Yuko,
Health,
12 Feb. 2025
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Some such adverse impacts include difficulty driving or with close-up activities like reading, writing, cooking, sewing or fixing things around the house.—
Daryl Austin,
USA TODAY,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Louden does and says things that are inappropriate in the film.—
Todd Gilchrist,
Variety,
14 Feb. 2025
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Many thought her outfit choice was inappropriate for such a historic occasion in the rotunda of the U.S. Capitol.—
Martha Ross,
The Mercury News,
12 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The shocking defeat of Bashar al-Assad’s regime by rebel groups led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham prompted a groundswell of domestic and international optimism.—
Jesse Marks,
Foreign Affairs,
11 Feb. 2025
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Nearly 3,000 people were killed over the past week in fighting between a rebel group and Congolese armed forces, the U.N. estimated.—
Natasha Frost,
New York Times,
6 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Despite unfavorable reviews and terrible audience scores, the 35th entry in Disney’s Marvel Cinematic Universe arrived slightly above projections and ranks as the biggest opening weekend of the year.—
Rebecca Rubin,
Variety,
16 Feb. 2025
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According to a Quinnipiac University poll, only 31 percent of Americans have a favorable view of the Democratic Party, and more than half of respondents have an unfavorable view of it.—
Elizabeth Currid-Halkett,
National Review,
16 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Chris Lawson from Front Row Motorsports and Billy Plourde from Rick Ware Racing were dismissed for issues related to improper weights found on their respective cars.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
14 Feb. 2025
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Diaz was placed under arrest and transported to Troop G where he was charged with criminal attempt at third-degree robbery, second-degree breach of peace and improper parking on a limited access highway.—
Staff report,
Hartford Courant,
14 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Clueless owner allows manipulative, conniving GM to convince him, in the face of mountains of contrary evidence, that the head coach is the problem.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
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For such an inelegant behavior to be in chatbots as widespread and popular as GPT is a blunt reminder of two larger, seemingly contrary phenomena.—
Jonathan L. Zittrain,
The Atlantic,
17 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near untoward
Cite this Entry
“Untoward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untoward. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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