unfavorable

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "unfavorable" is correct and usable in written English.
It is an adjective that means not encouraging, not beneficial, or not likely to lead to success. For example, "The economic outlook for the next quarter is looking increasingly unfavorable."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Encyclopedias

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

For those who point to Obama's changes in policy, such as the executive order closing Gitmo or launching an justice department probe into the CIA's illegal interrogations, the memory of the Bush administration's violence and bullish selfishness, as well as continued military campaigns, explain why many Muslim communities continue to hold a unfavorable opinion of the US.

The Guardian - Opinion

Shaw suggests that many officers take a laid-back approach to filing cases like Greene's – that they tend to skip marking any potential bias on police reports, because it is easier for cops to chalk up situations to "unfavorable neighborhoods" like the one in which Greene's body was found.

The Guardian - Opinion

A slight majority of 51% indicated a favorable opinion of Woods compared to 35% who ticked unfavorable.

The Guardian - Sport

Both are well-rested after skipping the Preakness – while American Pharoah will be running his fourth race in eight weeks – yet both drew outside posts generally considered unfavorable given the Belmont's formidable length.

The Guardian - Sport

Almost 4 million of them had part-time schedules due to unfavorable business conditions and decline in seasonal demand.

The Guardian - Money

As Mr Schiff points out, the NYSE's manual for listed companies states that "changes in accounting methods to mask" unfavorable news "endangers management's reputation for integrity".

The Economist

Max Sandlin and Nick Lampson, two Texas Democrats given unfavorable map draws in 2003, were ousted.That's a total of six "flips" in the 14 competitive seats held by the "wrong" party.

The Economist

First, a lower interest rate reduces a currency's relative expected return, so it has to cheapen until expected future appreciation overcomes the unfavorable interest rate differential.

The Economist

A Quinnipiac University poll shows a public swiftly souring on OWS: "By a 39 - 30 percent margin, American voters have an unfavorable opinion of the Occupy Wall Street movement, with 30 percent who don't know enough about it for an opinion".

The Economist

They do a thermometer rating on people and individuals where zero represents a very cold, unfavorable view, and 100 represents a very warm, favorable opinion.

The Economist

However, the relationship is far from deterministic: substantial minorities of those with unfavorable attitudes toward blacks identify as Democrats.So Mr Hayes is quite wrong.

The Economist

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing opinions or ratings, quantify the degree of "unfavorable" using adverbs like 'slightly', 'highly', or 'extremely' to provide more precision.

Common error

Avoid using "unfavorable" when you actually mean someone is simply "uninterested". "Unfavorable" implies a negative evaluation, while "uninterested" means a lack of interest or concern.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "unfavorable" is as an adjective. It modifies nouns to describe something disadvantageous, adverse, or not conducive to a positive outcome. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

50%

Science

25%

Encyclopedias

25%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Reference

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "unfavorable" is a versatile adjective used to express a negative judgment or a disadvantageous circumstance. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness. Its high frequency across news, scientific, and encyclopedic sources, along with the authoritative nature of sources like The Guardian and The Economist, underscores its broad applicability. While "unfavorable" is often used as a general-purpose term, related words like "disadvantageous", "adverse", and "detrimental" can provide more nuanced meanings. Avoid misusing "unfavorable" for "uninterested". Remember to use quantifying adverbs to add precision.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unfavourable

British English spelling variant with identical meaning.

disadvantageous

Focuses on the aspect of creating a less favorable situation or condition.

adverse

Emphasizes the opposing or harmful nature of the situation or opinion.

negative

A general term indicating a lack of positive qualities or outcomes.

detrimental

Highlights the damaging or harmful effects of something.

inauspicious

Implies that the situation is not promising or likely to succeed.

unpromising

Indicates a lack of potential for a positive outcome.

poor

Suggests a low quality or inadequate condition.

ill-suited

Focuses on the inappropriateness or unsuitability of something.

unfortunate

Highlights the unlucky or regrettable nature of a situation.

FAQs

How can I use "unfavorable" in a sentence?

You can use "unfavorable" to describe conditions, opinions, or outcomes. For example, "The business experienced "unfavorable market conditions"" or "The poll showed an "unfavorable opinion" of the candidate".

What words can I use instead of "unfavorable"?

Alternatives to "unfavorable" include "disadvantageous", "adverse", "negative", or "detrimental" depending on the context.

What's the difference between "unfavorable" and "unfavourable"?

"Unfavorable" and "unfavourable" are the same word. The former is the standard spelling in American English, while the latter is preferred in British English.

Is it correct to say "an unfavorable favorable"?

No, "an unfavorable favorable" is contradictory. "Unfavorable" means not favorable, so using them together doesn't make sense. Instead, you might want to consider phrases like "a slightly favorable" or "a mostly favorable".