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:
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
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
He doesn’t disapprove of my poem-writing tendencies out loud, but disapprove he definitely does.
From "The Sun Is Also a Star" by Nicola Yoon
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
First, the charter reforms would allow the commission to place ordinances on the ballot only if the council ignores its proposals altogether or disapproves them with zero amendments.
From Los Angeles Times ● May 6, 2024
“The prosecution clearly disapproves of Mr. Lazzaro’s playboy lifestyle,” Gerdts said.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 31, 2023
“But why would Charlie say he’s sorry if his family disapproves of you?”
From "Because of Mr. Terupt" by Rob Buyea
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
A year later, only 40% approved and 53% disapproved.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
In a CBS survey taken before the weekend's shooting, 61% of respondents said that ICE is being "too tough when stopping and detaining people", while 58% disapproved of his handling of immigration as a whole.
From BBC ● Jan. 26, 2026
There was no rule explicitly forbidding exercise at such an hour, but it was not expected; ordinarily therefore Mr. Ludsbury would have disapproved.
From "A Separate Peace" by John Knowles
Mr. Ficarra’s contribution to a standard character includes a silent, disapproving commentary on the sometimes inane antics of his boss.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 25, 2026
Worryingly for Lula, the Datafolha poll showed 51 percent of voters disapproving of his performance.
From Barron's ● Apr. 24, 2026
The poll found that 48% of California registered voters say they approve of the job Newsom is doing, with the same share disapproving of his performance.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 20, 2026
They can issue a resolution disapproving of the president’s conduct.
From Slate ● Mar. 2, 2026
The English SOE agent who was being dropped off that night was disapproving.
From "Code Name Verity" by Elizabeth Wein
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.
