least favorable

USAGE SUMMARY

"least favorable" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to describe something that is the least good or desirable out of a group. For example: "He received the least favorable job offer out of the bunch."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

In contrast, education and humanities and arts majors experienced the least favorable outcomes".

The New York Times

Ranking each factor from No. 1, or least favorable, to No. 5, they then calculate a composite score.

The New York Times

Thirty-two percent of the managers said the outlook for corporate profits was least favorable in the United States.

The New York Times

On what is her least favorable surface, this wasn't Serena's most memorable effort, she was quick to admit.

The New York Times - Sports

Portfolio 1 contained the approximately 20percentt of stocks whose consensus recommendations were the most favorable, while Portfolio 5 contained those that were least favorable.

The New York Times

The lawyer, John Bucher, said that the state was trying to show Mr. Green in the least favorable light before a judge determined a prison term.

The New York Times

This, the least favorable option, offers the worst tax implications.

Forbes

The most promising alternatives were chosen rejecting the ones with a least favorable performance.

Bioresource Technology

Those >2 mm short from the radiographic apex had the least favorable outcome (33%%).

Evidence-Based Endodontics

However, as for the previous case, the peaky distribution is the least favorable to our technique.

EURASIP Journal on Advances in Signal Processing

The DEX model produced uniform results and defined the conservation status of all three FHTs as least favorable.

Ecological Indicators

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When using "least favorable", ensure the context clearly defines the criteria for what constitutes 'favorable'. Be specific to avoid ambiguity.

Common error

Avoid using "least favorable" when a stronger term like "detrimental" or "harmful" is more appropriate. "Least favorable" implies a mild level of negativity compared to other options.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "least favorable" functions as a qualifying adjective phrase, modifying a noun to indicate that it possesses the fewest desirable qualities compared to others. Ludwig provides numerous examples demonstrating this usage across various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

37%

News & Media

32%

Formal & Business

3%

Less common in

Wiki

2%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "least favorable" is a common and versatile phrase used to describe the least desirable option among a set of choices. As confirmed by Ludwig, it is grammatically correct and appears frequently in diverse contexts, including science, news, and business. When using "least favorable", ensure the context clearly establishes the criteria for evaluation to avoid ambiguity. Remember that "least favorable" indicates a relatively mild level of negativity compared to stronger terms such as "detrimental" or "worst".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

least preferred

Directly indicates a ranking based on preference.

least suitable

Highlights the lack of appropriateness for a particular purpose.

most undesirable

Highlights the lack of appeal or agreeableness.

least promising

Implies a low likelihood of success or positive results.

least advantageous

Emphasizes the absence of benefits or advantages.

most disadvantageous

Focuses specifically on the presence of obstacles or drawbacks.

most adverse

Stresses the negative or harmful nature of the situation.

most detrimental

Draws attention to the potential for harm or damage.

most unpropitious

Emphasizes a lack of favorable conditions or circumstances.

worst case

Emphasizes the potential for severely negative outcomes.

FAQs

How can I use "least favorable" in a sentence?

You can use "least favorable" to describe the worst or least preferred option among several possibilities. For example, "Among the job offers, this one was the "least favorable" because of the low salary".

What is a good alternative to "least favorable"?

Alternatives to "least favorable" include "most undesirable", "least preferred", or "most disadvantageous" depending on the specific context.

When is it appropriate to use "least favorable" instead of "worst"?

"Least favorable" is appropriate when comparing multiple options and identifying the one with the fewest positive attributes, while "worst" implies a single, absolutely negative outcome. "Least favorable" suggests a relative ranking, while "worst" indicates an absolute condition.

Is there a difference between "least favorable" and "less favorable"?

"Least favorable" indicates the absolute bottom of a ranking, whereas "less favorable" simply means it is lower in preference than another option, but not necessarily the lowest. For example, among the options, "Option C" is "least favorable", but "Option B" is only "less favorable" than "Option A".