disapprove
Americanverb (used with object)
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disapproves,
present (3rd person singular)
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disapproved,
past participle, past
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disapproving
present participle
verb (used without object)
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disapproves,
present (3rd person singular)
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disapproved,
past participle, past
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disapproving
present participle
verb
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to consider wrong, bad, etc
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(tr) to withhold approval from
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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disapprovesimple
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disapprovessimple
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have disapprovedperfect
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has disapprovedperfect
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am disapprovingprogressive
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are disapprovingprogressive
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is disapprovingprogressive
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have been disapprovingperfect progressive
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has been disapprovingperfect progressive
Past
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disapprovedsimple
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had disapprovedperfect
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was disapprovingprogressive
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were disapprovingprogressive
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had been disapprovingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of disapprove
Explanation
To disapprove is to object to something, or frown on it. Your parents, worried about head injuries, might disapprove of your joining the football team. You can say that you disapprove of violence in movies and video games, or that you disapprove of censorship of any kind. Almost everyone disapproves of things like drunk driving or being cruel to animals. In all of these examples, to disapprove is to believe something is wrong or bad. Originally, in the 15th century, the word meant "disprove," but by the mid-1600s the meaning shifted to "the reverse of approve."
Vocabulary lists containing disapprove
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Eighty-seven percent of Peruvians disapprove of the legislature, according to an Ipsos poll.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026
According to the survey, 41% approve of his work, compared with 29% who disapprove.
From BBC ● Jun. 1, 2026
It’s not as if voters can go to the voting booth and show that they disapprove of this.
From Slate ● May 7, 2026
According to Gallup, as of September 2025, 42% of respondents approve, 52% disapprove and 6% have no opinion of the Supreme Court.
From Salon ● Apr. 25, 2026
Rita may disapprove of me, but Cora does not.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Regrettably, Loomer also disapproves of Means’ selection as surgeon general, in part due to her history of talking to trees.
From Slate ● May 10, 2025
There are some signs Mr Xi disapproves of the burgeoning alliance between two of his allies.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2024
“Mother of God,” says Maggie Smith flintily, when her character is confronted with something of which she disapproves — which is most things — in Irish director Thaddeus O’Sullivan’s blandly buttery “The Miracle Club.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2023
“The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr. Lazzaro’s playboy lifestyle,” Gerdts said.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 31, 2023
Theo disapproves that Vincent is still in touch with Margot.
From "Vincent and Theo: The Van Gogh Brothers" by Deborah Heiligman
Even so, Zaslav’s package failed to win shareholder support; 84% of those who voted in June disapproved, following a similar rejection a year before.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
He said many journalists "disapproved" of past coverage, but "could not ignore" instructions from higher-ups -- until they ceased in recent weeks.
From Barron's ● May 30, 2026
The King warned, in a message recorded at Balmoral earlier this month, that his mother would have disapproved of the current state of the world.
From BBC ● Apr. 20, 2026
A year later, only 40% approved and 53% disapproved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
She could make one suffer if she disapproved.
From "East of Eden" by John Steinbeck
His hard-line immigration policies have proven to be particularly unpopular, with six in 10 residents disapproving of his actions, according to the survey, a stark contrast to the county’s historical stance on the issue.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2026
They can issue a resolution disapproving of the president’s conduct.
From Slate ● Mar. 2, 2026
When questioned, he claimed to be a US official before leaving to disapproving looks from locals, according to an AFP journalist at the scene.
From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026
A December poll by KSTP-TV and SurveyUSA found Minnesota voters divided on Walz’s job performance, 48% approving and 48% disapproving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 3, 2026
The old man shook his head, wearing, for a moment, the same touchy, meditating frown of the fretful and disapproving old woman.
From "Catch-22" by Joseph Heller
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
