Disfavor — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /(ˌ)dis-ˈfā-vər/ dis·fa·vor

Meaning & Definition of Disfavor

Disfavor (noun)

  1. disapproval, dislike
  2. the state or fact of being no longer favored
  3. disadvantage

Disfavor (verb)

  1. to withhold or withdraw favor from

Disfavor (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. a strong feeling of not liking or approving

    "made no attempt to hide his disfavor of his wife's relatives"

    similar: allergy, averseness, aversion, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, down (chiefly British), mislike
    related: disgust, distaste, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, deprecation, disapproval, displeasure, dissatisfaction, jaundice
    opposite: appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use
    near: affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, love, passion, bent, leaning, penchant, predilection, propensity, tendency

  2. refusal to accept as right or desirable

    "their suggestion was met with disfavor by virtually all of the other club members"

    similar: deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, discountenance, disesteem, dislike, displeasure
    related: disrelish, distaste, rejection, thumbs-down, blame, censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation, dispraise, opprobrium, reprehension, reproach, reprobation, antagonism, antipathy, hostility, belittlement, disparagement, objection, opposition
    opposite: approbation, approval, favor
    near: acclaim, commendation, praise, endorsement, sanction, thumbs-up, empathy, sympathy

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

    "the defendant certainly acted to his own disfavor with his frequent outbursts"

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

Disfavor (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to feel dislike for

    "a style of stage acting that is disfavored by most theatergoers today"

    similar: dislike, disrelish, mislike
    related: abhor, abominate, detest, execrate, hate, loathe, resent, condemn, despise, scorn, cringe (at), disapprove (of), frown (on or upon), mind, object (to), shy (from or away from)
    opposite: adore, cotton (to), delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), like, love, relish, revel (in)
    near: admire, appreciate, cherish, esteem, regard, respect, adore, deify, idolize, revere, reverence, venerate, worship, prize, treasure, value, drink (in), savor, dote (on), favor, prefer

  2. to hold an unfavorable opinion of

    "polls showing that this political candidate is highly disfavored by most voters"

    similar: deprecate, disapprove (of), discountenance, disesteem, dislike, frown (on or upon), mislike, reprove, tsk-tsk, tut (over or about), tut-tut (over or about), look down one's nose (on)
    related: disrelish, object (to), pooh-pooh, reject, reprehend, reprobate, scorn, censure, condemn, criticize, denounce, discommend, chide, rebuke, reproach, scold
    opposite: approve, favor, like
    near: endorse, sanction, support, adore, delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, relish, revel (in)

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Disfavor

The most common words with a similar meaning to Disfavor:

Chiefly British: down
allergy, averseness, aversion, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, mislike, deprecation, disapprobation, disapproval, discountenance, disesteem, displeasure, despite, detriment, disadvantage, penalty, deprecate, disapprove (of), frown (on or upon), reprove, tsk-tsk, tut (over or about), tut-tut (over or about), look down one's nose (on)

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Disfavor

Words with the opposite meaning of Disfavor:

appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference, relish, shine, taste, use, approbation, approval, advantage, adore, cotton (to), delight (in), dig, enjoy, fancy, groove (on), love, revel (in), approve

Related Words for Disfavor

disgust, distaste, loathing, nausea, repugnance, repulsion, revulsion, abhorrence, abomination, antipathy, detestation, execration, hate, hatred, dissatisfaction, jaundice, rejection, thumbs-down, blame, censure, condemnation, criticism, denunciation, dispraise, opprobrium, reprehension, reproach, reprobation, antagonism, hostility

Near Antonyms of Disfavor

affection, attachment, devotedness, devotion, passion, bent, leaning, penchant, predilection, propensity, tendency, acclaim, commendation, praise, endorsement, sanction, thumbs-up, empathy, sympathy, gain, admire, appreciate, cherish, esteem, regard, respect, deify, idolize, revere, reverence

Word Forms of Disfavor

Inflections: disfavored, disfavoring, disfavors

Origin & Etymology of Disfavor

probably from Middle French desfaveur, from des- dis- + faveur favor, from Old French favor

First known use: circa 1533

Words & Phrases Containing Disfavor

fall into disfavor, in disfavor

Frequently Asked Questions about Disfavor

What does "Disfavor" mean?

"Disfavor" means disapproval, dislike. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: disapproval, dislike. It has 5 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Disfavor"?

Other words for "Disfavor" include allergy, averseness, aversion, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish and down. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Disfavor" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Disfavor"?

There are 93 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Disfavor". Common alternatives include allergy, averseness, aversion, disinclination, dislike, disliking, disrelish, down, mislike and deprecation.

What is the opposite of "Disfavor"?

Antonyms of "Disfavor" include appetite, favor, fondness, like, liking, partiality, preference and relish. Near antonyms include affection, attachment, devotedness and devotion.

How do you use "Disfavor" in a sentence?

Examples of "Disfavor" in a sentence: "made no attempt to hide his disfavor of his wife's relatives"; "their suggestion was met with disfavor by virtually all of the other club members"; "the defendant certainly acted to his own disfavor with his frequent outbursts".

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

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

How do you pronounce "Disfavor"?

"Disfavor" is pronounced /(ˌ)dis-ˈfā-vər/ and divided into syllables as dis·fa·vor.

What is the origin of the word "Disfavor"?

"Disfavor" comes from probably from Middle French desfaveur, from des- dis- + faveur favor, from Old French favor. First known use: circa 1533.