different between unfavourable vs untoward

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

Etymology

un- +? toward (“to +? -ward”)

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??n.t??w??d/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?n?t??d/, /??n.t??w??d/
• Rhymes: -??(r)d

Adjective

untoward (comparative more untoward, superlative most untoward)

1. Unfavourable, adverse, or disadvantageous.

   Synonyms: adverse, disadvantageous, inconvenient, unfavorable, unfortunate

   • 1886-88, Richard F. Burton, The Supplemental Nights to the Thousand Nights and a Night:

     But as soon as her son espied her, bowl in hand, he thought that haply something untoward had befallen her, but he would not ask of aught until such time as she had set down the bowl, when she acquainted him with that which had occurred […]
2. Unruly, troublesome; not easily guided.

   Synonyms: difficult, fractious, stubborn, troublesome, uncontrollable, unruly

3. Unseemly, improper.

   Synonyms: immodest, improper, unseemly

Derived terms

• untowardly
• untowardness

Translations

Anagrams

• drawn out, drawn-out, outdrawn