disapprobation

American  

[dis-ap-ruh-bey-shuhn] / ˌdɪs æp rəˈbeɪ ʃən /

noun

1. disapproval; condemnation.

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disapprobation British  

/ ˌdɪsæprəʊˈbeɪʃən /

noun

1. moral or social disapproval

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Other Word Forms

• self-disapprobation noun

Etymology

Origin of disapprobation

First recorded in 1640–50; dis- ¹ + approbation

Explanation

If you show up for Thanksgiving dinner an hour late, covered in mud from a tag football game, your parents will give you a look of disapprobation. This means they seriously disapprove of your actions, despite the fact that you scored the winning touchdown. Disapprobation is a noun for the state of total disapproval and condemnation. It is often used in conjunction with a moral or social offense. Acts such as stealing an old lady's purse, defying your teachers or parents, vandalizing, or being a lying sneak are all things that are going to earn you disapprobation. But if you decide to change your evil ways and do something wonderful to earn praise, you'll find yourself back on the side of approbation.

Example Sentences

The report claimed that the controversy was his doing; that he “instigated” the first news stories about the bones to “bring disapprobation on the museum” and “to personally discredit Monge.”

From New York Times • Oct. 19, 2022

Although we can and should ascribe different levels of responsibility to people based on how senior they were and how involved their work was, none of them should escape the public’s moral disapprobation.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2020

Appropriation of Hinduism, quantum physics and all else is disapprobation.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2020

Hated in the Nation is Black Mirror’s excursion into public shame: it takes a series of targets who have brought disapprobation upon themselves.

From The Guardian • Oct. 25, 2016

“But is there not danger of Lady Catherine’s disapprobation here, my good sir? You had better neglect your relations than run the risk of offending your patroness.”

From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen