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
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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
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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
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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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of negative
Alex Durante, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Trevor Bauer says even a no-hitter wasn't enough to stop the media from trying to turn the story negative.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
The Pharisees scrutinized every good act in order to find a violation, only looking for the negative.
—CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 May 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
Manufacturing sentiment, a measure of how manufacturers feel about the growth prospects of their sector, remained negative for most of 2025.
—Alex Durante, Fortune, 29 Apr. 2026
Trevor Bauer says even a no-hitter wasn't enough to stop the media from trying to turn the story negative.
—Dan Zaksheske Outkick, FOXNews.com, 29 Apr. 2026
Noun
Many original Méliès negatives were lost for good during World War I, when their silver and celluloid were extracted by melting them down.
—Ryan Brennan, Kansas City Star, 20 Apr. 2026
The Pharisees scrutinized every good act in order to find a violation, only looking for the negative.
—CBS News, 19 Apr. 2026
Verb
Regardless, the outcome of this trial might not impact the ex-couple’s career prospects in all that negative a way, Engelmayer predicted.
—Victoria Bekiempis, Vulture, 26 May 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
-
These Knicks still need to close the Hawks out in hostile territory in Game 6.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Extreme recovery conditions The Asse II mine presents a uniquely hostile environment.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
If the resolution is unfavorable to the community groups — who are also backed by the Black Political Caucus of Charlotte-Mecklenburg — that frustration will fall back on somebody, Bokhari said.—
Nick Sullivan,
Charlotte Observer,
27 Apr. 2026
-
With race and ethnicity always a factor in Chicago politics, white respondents had the most unfavorable view of the city’s Black mayor, at 54%, while 27% of white respondents viewed Johnson favorably.—
Rick Pearson,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Super-majority thresholds are common in government (like a 67% requirement to over-ride a governor’s veto) and in the private sector.—
Kent Thiry,
Denver Post,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Letterboxd co-founder Matthew Buchanan retains veto rights over any potential buyer, a condition intended to preserve the site’s original spirit.—
Max Tani,
semafor.com,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And then however the world works, the opposite happened.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Well, this is kind of like the opposite.—
Caleb Jacobs,
The Drive,
30 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The congresswoman was at a disadvantage, unquestionably, in trying to defend against criminal charges at the same time as the House probe.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The real twist here is a disadvantage because, in losing, Christian has to take an envelope back to camp and read its contents in front of his tribe mates.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
That lawsuit, along with a countersuit by the PGA Tour, was dismissed a year later.—
Tim Reynolds,
Chicago Tribune,
1 May 2026
-
There’s too much effort, too much time, and too much sincerity apparent behind this film to dismiss it outright.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Turkey denies the deaths constituted genocide, saying the toll has been inflated and that those killed were victims of civil war and unrest.—
City News Service,
Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
-
If Yahweh, who delivered Israel from bondage and parted the Red Sea, intervenes too soon, some of us will be denied that choice (parable of the wheat and the tares).—
Voice of the People,
New York Daily News,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The court rejected the argument, concluding that a prospective rate hearing — unlike that on the response time — would be considered contested and the utility would have the opportunity to challenge the finding of imprudence then.—
Edmund H. Mahony,
Hartford Courant,
29 Apr. 2026
-
The legislation passed with broad bipartisan support in the Senate, but some Republicans rejected the bill, opposing earmarking millions more to maintain the fortified Capitol and equip it with the staff necessary to keep the screenings going.—
Caroline Cummings,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Negative.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/negative. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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