Disadvantages — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb noun /ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tij/

Meaning & Definition of Disadvantages

Disadvantages (verb)

  1. to place at a disadvantage, harm

Disadvantages (noun)

  1. loss or damage especially to reputation, credit, or finances, detriment
  2. an unfavorable, inferior, or prejudicial condition
  3. a quality or circumstance that makes achievement unusually difficult, handicap

Disadvantages (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success

    "their lack of height was a disadvantage on the basketball court"

    similar: debits, disbenefits, downsides, drawbacks, handicaps, incommodities, liabilities, minuses, negatives, strikes
    related: albatross, millstones, strangleholds, disabilities, impairments, failings, shortcomings, bars, catches, checks, clogs, crimps, embarrassments, hindrances, hitches, hurdles, impediments, interferences, lets, manacles, obstacles, obstructions, rubs, shackles, stops, trammels
    opposite: advantages, assets, edges, pluses
    near: vantages, head starts, jumps, leads, margins, starts, ascendancies, betters, commands, controls, drops, masteries, predominances, superiorities, supremacies, transcendences, upper hands, prerogatives, privileges, breaks, opportunities, aids, assistances, help

  2. the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success

    "intense pretrial publicity worked to our disadvantage"

    similar: despites, detriments, disfavors, penalties
    related: deficits, deprivations, expenses, losses, damages, harms, hurts, injuries, prejudices
    opposite: advantages, favors
    near: gains

Related Entry: Disadvantage (noun)

Disadvantage is a different word from Disadvantages. The synonyms below are for disadvantage, not for disadvantages.

  1. a feature of someone or something that creates difficulty for achieving success

    "their lack of height was a disadvantage on the basketball court"

    similar: debit, disbenefit, downside, drawback, handicap, incommodity, liability, minus, negative, strike
    related: albatross, millstone, stranglehold, disability, impairment, failing, shortcoming, bar, catch, check, clog, crimp, embarrassment, hindrance, hitch, hurdle, impediment, interference, let, manacle, obstacle, obstruction, rub, shackle, stop, trammel
    opposite: advantage, asset, edge, plus
    near: vantage, head start, jump, lead, margin, start, ascendancy, better, command, control, drop, mastery, predominance, superiority, supremacy, transcendence, upper hand, prerogative, privilege, break, opportunity, aid, assistance, help

  2. the negative result caused by something that creates difficulty for achieving success

    "intense pretrial publicity worked to our disadvantage"

    similar: despite, detriment, disfavor, penalty
    related: deficit, deprivation, expense, loss, damage, harm, hurt, injury, prejudice
    opposite: advantage, favor
    near: gain

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Disadvantages

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disadvantages:

debits, disbenefits, downsides, drawbacks, handicaps, incommodities, liabilities, minuses, negatives, strikes, despites, detriments, disfavors, penalties

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disadvantages

Words with the opposite meaning of Disadvantages:

advantages, assets, edges, pluses, favors

Related Words for Disadvantages

albatross, millstones, strangleholds, disabilities, impairments, failings, shortcomings, bars, catches, checks, clogs, crimps, embarrassments, hindrances, hitches, hurdles, impediments, interferences, lets, manacles, obstacles, obstructions, rubs, shackles, stops, trammels, deficits, deprivations, expenses, losses

Near Antonyms of Disadvantages

vantages, head starts, jumps, leads, margins, starts, ascendancies, betters, commands, controls, drops, masteries, predominances, superiorities, supremacies, transcendences, upper hands, prerogatives, privileges, breaks, opportunities, aids, assistances, help, gains

Word Forms of Disadvantages

Inflections: disadvantaged, disadvantaging

Origin & Etymology of Disadvantages

Middle English disavauntage, from Anglo-French desavantage, from des- dis- + avantage advantage

First known use: circa 1550

Frequently Asked Questions about Disadvantages

What does "Disadvantages" mean?

"Disadvantages" means to place at a disadvantage, harm. As an a verb and a noun, it is defined as: to place at a disadvantage, harm. It has 2 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Disadvantages"?

Other words for "Disadvantages" include debits, disbenefits, downsides, drawbacks, handicaps, incommodities, liabilities and minuses. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Disadvantages" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Disadvantages"?

There are 49 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Disadvantages". Common alternatives include debits, disbenefits, downsides, drawbacks, handicaps, incommodities, liabilities, minuses, negatives and strikes.

What is the opposite of "Disadvantages"?

Antonyms of "Disadvantages" include advantages, assets, edges, pluses and favors. Near antonyms include vantages, head starts, jumps and leads.

How do you use "Disadvantages" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disadvantages" in a sentence: "their lack of height was a disadvantage on the basketball court"; "intense pretrial publicity worked to our disadvantage".

Is "Disadvantages" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Disadvantages" can be used as a verb and a noun, depending on the context.

How do you pronounce "Disadvantages"?

"Disadvantages" is pronounced /ˌdis-əd-ˈvan-tij/.

What is the origin of the word "Disadvantages"?

"Disadvantages" comes from Middle English disavauntage, from Anglo-French desavantage, from des- dis- + avantage advantage. First known use: circa 1550.