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:
Those who disapprove or try to ignore him have no effect.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
More than 57% of adults disapprove of the president’s job performance, according to the RealClearPolitics polling average, which is up from 50% a year ago.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
Eighty-seven percent of Peruvians disapprove of the legislature, according to an Ipsos poll.
From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 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
Rita may disapprove of me, but Cora does not.
From "The Handmaid's Tale" by Margaret Atwood
Gladys’ marriage is the product of a financial arrangement brokered by Bertha, of which George disapproves.
From Salon ● Aug. 11, 2025
Under the FDCPA, they cannot call you at work if they know your employer disapproves.
From Slate ● Aug. 16, 2024
There are some signs Mr Xi disapproves of the burgeoning alliance between two of his allies.
From BBC ● Jun. 19, 2024
If Jones disapproves of the maps, he could appoint a special master to redraw them for the court.
From Seattle Times ● Dec. 7, 2023
If some celebrity endorses a brand of dog food, or some cabdriver disapproves of the mayor’s handling of a dilemma, there’s obviously no reason to accord statistical significance to these personal expressions.
From "Innumeracy: Mathematical Illiteracy and Its Consequences" by John Allen Paulos
They definitely disapproved of our government violating due process: “We’re a country built on laws.”
From Salon ● Sep. 18, 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
If states didn’t submit plans by September 2016, or if the EPA disapproved of them, the feds would take over.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 24, 2026
In the survey, 60% of respondents disapproved of the military strikes on Iran, while 35% approved.
From BBC ● Apr. 1, 2026
It will not be accepted as an excuse that they may have disapproved in silence.”
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
But to Gino the revered patriarch was distant and disapproving.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 26, 2026
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
Worryingly for Lula, the Datafolha poll showed 51 percent of voters disapproving of his performance.
From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026
They can issue a resolution disapproving of the president’s conduct.
From Slate ● Mar. 2, 2026
Mr. Yardley, the librarian, has spotted us and is headed our way, looking disapproving.
From "How to Disappear Completely" by Ali Standish
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.
