untoward

CEFRC1

/ˌʌn.tʊˈwɔːd/

adjective

Türkçe translations

Translating…

In plain English

  1. 01

    adjective

    Unexpected, unsuitable, and possibly causing trouble or difficulty.

  2. 02

    adjective

    Extra detail

    Unruly, troublesome; not easily guided.

Examples

  • The congressman has been in the spotlight ever since his untoward remarks about African Americans.

  • Tom swore that he wasn't involved in anything untoward.

At a glance

Sits at C1 on the CEFR scale

Senses
4
Parts of speech
1
Citations
5
Synonyms
5

Also pronounced

  • /ʌnˈtɔɹd/

Deep Dive

adjective

Extra meanings

  1. Unseemly, improper.

  2. Unfavourable, adverse, or disadvantageous.

More examples

In context

  • But as soon as her son espied her, bowl in hand, he thought that haply something untoward had befallen her, but he would not ask of aught until such time as she had set down the bowl, when she acquainted him with that which had occurred[…]

  • She could hardly have made a more untoward choice.

  • The managing director was very depressed at the news, but realized that trying to prove anything untoward had taken place would be very difficult.

Synonyms

Quick test

Two questions on this entry. Nothing is scored.

Question 1 · Quick check

The airport security team carefully checked every bag to prevent any blank incidents from occurring.

Practise this properly in the app, where the word comes back before you forget it.

Nearby

Origin

adjective

From un- + toward (“to + -ward”).