Unfavourable Meaning
/ˌʌˈnfeɪvərəbəl/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
adjServing to hinder or oppose; adverse, disadvantageous, inconducive, unsuitable.
adjNot auspicious; ill-boding.
Sentence Examples
The decision was unfavourable to us.
I made it plain that the situation was unfavourable to us.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
After their poor performance last night, the football team received ____ reviews from the sports critics.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The weather forecast was ____ for the outdoor concert, so the organizers decided to move it to a local hall today.
Word Origin & History
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *né Proto-Indo-European *n̥- Proto-Germanic *un- Proto-West Germanic *un- Old English un- Middle English un- English un- English favourable English unfavourable From un- + favourable.
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"The shade of a dense pine wood, is more unfavorable to the springing up of pines of the same species than of oaks within it."
— 1863, Henry David Thoreau, chapter 6, in Excursions:
"About 200 guests were invited and entertained to lunch in the so-called booking hall at Waterloo; the contractors, Spiers & Pond Limited, were much praised for organising the repast, with attendant cloak room facilities, so well in such unfavourable surroundings."
— 1958 August 26, T. S. Lascelles, “Diamond Jubilee of the Waterloo & City Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 523:
"Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavourable beginning from all those who were not immediately on the spot."
— 1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter VIII, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 148:
"The fact that the bride went through the ceremony without her bridal bouquet is looked upon by many as an unfavorable omen."
— 1903, Anna Katharine Green, chapter 6, in The Filigree Ball:
"[Y]et the thing she most dreaded was to offend the gypsies, by betraying her extremely unfavourable opinion of them, [...]"
— 1860, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “Maggie Tries to Run Away from Her Shadow”, in The Mill on the Floss […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book I (Boy and Girl), pages 208–209:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
After their poor performance last night, the football team received ____ reviews from the sports critics.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The weather forecast was ____ for the outdoor concert, so the organizers decided to move it to a local hall today.