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Synonyms

disapproval

American  
[dis-uh-proo-vuhl] / ˌdɪs əˈpru vəl /

noun

  1. the act or state of disapproving; a condemnatory feeling, look, or utterance; censure.

    stern disapproval.

    Synonyms:
    condemnation, dislike, disapprobation

disapproval British  
/ ˌdɪsəˈpruːvəl /

noun

  1. the act or a state or feeling of disapproving; censure; condemnation

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of disapproval

First recorded in 1655–65; dis- 1 + approval

Explanation

Disapproval is what you express when you share your dislike or opposition. If you fail a class, you might worry both about your grade point average and also your parents' disapproval. When you sense disapproval in your teacher's voice after you show her a draft of your research paper, you might want to start over. You might feel disapproval yourself when you see your friend spend money instead of saving it, or watch your dad feel the dog from his plate at the dinner table. Disapproval uses the "opposite of" prefix dis- with approval, from its Latin root approbare, "to regard as good."

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Vocabulary lists containing disapproval

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.

His expansive career has won him Tony and Olivier awards for plays such as A Chorus of Disapproval, but the start of his success story was somewhat unorthodox.

From BBC • Apr. 12, 2024

Disapproval rose 3.0 percentage points to 43.0%, the poll by Jiji Press between Oct.

From Reuters • Oct. 13, 2022

Beverly resents Baneatta’s attitude of superiority; Baneatta, whose tenured professorship seems to be in Disapproval Studies, scorns Beverly’s down-market outfits and outlook.

From New York Times • Oct. 10, 2021

Disapproval among that group reached 43% this month, up from 30% in November, according to the poll.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 15, 2018

Disapproval wafted from him when my mother said, “I tried to get you back.”

From "Three Little Words: A Memoir" by Ashley Rhodes-Courter

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