different between unfavourable vs harmful

English

Etymology

From un- +? favourable.

Adjective

unfavourable (comparative more unfavourable, superlative most unfavourable) (British spelling)

1. Serving to hinder or oppose; adverse, disadvantageous, inconducive, unsuitable.

   Antonym: favourable

   • 1863, Henry David Thoreau, chapter 6, Excursions:

     The shade of a dense pine wood, is more unfavorable to the springing up of pines of the same species than of oaks within it.

2. Not auspicious; ill-boding.

   Synonyms: inauspicious, unfortunate; see also Thesaurus:unlucky

   Antonyms: favourable, fortunate; see also Thesaurus:lucky

   • 1903, Anna Katharine Green, The Filigree Ball, ch. 6:

     The fact that the bride went through the ceremony without her bridal bouquet is looked upon by many as an unfavorable omen.

3. Of a belief, state of mind, etc.: not favourable; disapproving.

   Synonym: favourable
4. Of wind or weather: causing delay or obstacles; not conducive to travel or work; inclement.
   • 1855, Herman Melville, chapter 17, Israel Potter:

     The wind was right under the land, the tide unfavorable.

Usage notes

Nouns to which unfavourable is often applied: condition, circumstance, weather, climate, outcome, result, opinion, view, impression, effect, consequence, impact, influence, environment, balance, information, report, prognosis, rating, evaluation, review, position, factor, feature, aspect, reaction, response, attitude, season, development, treatment, ruling, case, state, experience, inference.

Alternative forms

• unfavorable (American spelling)

Derived terms

• unfavourability
• unfavourableness
• unfavourably

Translations

English

Alternative forms

• harmfull (archaic)

Etymology

From Middle English harmful, from Old English *hearmful (suggested by hearmfull?? (“harmful; hurtful”)), equivalent to harm +? -ful.

Cognate with German harmvoll, Danish harmfuld, Swedish harmfull.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?h??mfl?/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?h??mfl?/

Adjective

harmful (comparative harmfuller or more harmful, superlative harmfullest or most harmful)

1. of a kind likely to be damaging; injurious

   Wear a hat to protect your skin from harmful sunlight.

Usage notes

• Nouns to which "harmful" is often applied: effect, consequence, impact, influence, emission, chemical, ingredient, substance, gas, agent, additive, drug, radiation, dust, organism, plant, animal, insect, action, act, behavior, component, content, activity, interference, use.

Synonyms

• injurious; see also Thesaurus:harmful

Antonyms

• beneficial
• harmless

Translations

See also

• harm