UNFAVORABLE

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does unfavorable mean? 

• UNFAVORABLE (adjective)
  The adjective UNFAVORABLE has 3 senses:

1. not encouraging or approving or pleasing

2. (of winds or weather) tending to hinder or oppose

3. involving or creating circumstances detrimental to success or effectiveness

  Familiarity information: UNFAVORABLE used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UNFAVORABLE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Not encouraging or approving or pleasing

Synonyms:

unfavorable; unfavourable

Context example:

unfavorable impression

Similar:

admonishing; admonitory; reproachful; reproving (expressing reproof or reproach especially as a corrective)

adverse; inauspicious; untoward (contrary to your interests or welfare)

disapproving (expressing or manifesting disapproval)

discriminatory; invidious (containing or implying a slight or showing prejudice)

Also:

negative (expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial)

critical (marked by a tendency to find and call attention to errors and flaws)

uncomplimentary (tending to (or intended to) detract or disparage)

bad (having undesirable or negative qualities)

hostile (characterized by enmity or ill will)

Antonym:

favorable (encouraging or approving or pleasing)

Derivation:

unfavorableness (the quality of not being encouraging or indicative of success)

Sense 2

Meaning:

(of winds or weather) tending to hinder or oppose

Synonyms:

unfavorable; unfavourable

Context example:

unfavorable winds

Similar:

adverse; contrary (in an opposing direction)

Also:

unpropitious (not propitious)

Antonym:

favorable ((of winds or weather) tending to promote or facilitate)

Derivation:

unfavorableness (the quality of not being encouraging or indicative of success)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Involving or creating circumstances detrimental to success or effectiveness

Synonyms:

disadvantageous; unfavorable; unfavourable

Context example:

made an unfavorable impression

Similar:

minus; negative (involving disadvantage or harm)

Also:

inexpedient (not suitable or advisable)

harmful (causing or capable of causing harm)

inopportune (not opportune)

Derivation:

unfavorableness (the quality of not being encouraging or indicative of success)

 Context examples 

It affects both children and adults and it usually has an unfavorable clinical outcome.

(Acute Myeloid Leukemia with t(6;9)(p23;q34); DEK-NUP214, NCI Thesaurus)

In addition, these bacteria produce lactic acid, thereby creating an acidic environment that is unfavorable for pathogens.

(Live Freeze-Dried Lactic Acid Bacteria Probiotic, NCI Thesaurus)

It usually has an unfavorable clinical course.

(Medulloblastoma with Melanotic Differentiation, NCI Thesaurus)

The prognosis is usually unfavorable. (WHO, 2001) — 2003

(Acute Leukemia of Ambiguous Lineage, NCI Thesaurus)

It has an unfavorable clinical outcome.

(B Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia with t(9;22)(q34;q11.2); BCR-ABL1, NCI Thesaurus)

Future studies will also determine whether high blood sugar is a cause or effect of unfavorable stroke outcomes.

(Researchers get a handle on how to control blood sugar after stroke, National Institutes of Health)

The hydrolysis of ATP is highly favorable and is coupled to a variety of energetically unfavorable processes to drive them forward.

(Electron Transport Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

An unfavorable feeling of fatigue temporally associated with the use of a medical treatment or procedure.

(Fatigue Adverse Event, NCI Thesaurus)

The INPC distinguishes favorable and unfavorable histology groups.

(International Neuroblastoma Pathology Classification, NCI Thesaurus)

A rare morphologic variant of acinar adenocarcinoma of the prostate gland with unfavorable prognosis, composed of both malignant glandular and sarcomatous components.

(Acinar Prostate Adenocarcinoma, Sarcomatoid Variant, NCI Thesaurus)