disfavored 1 of 2

adjective

as in despised

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disfavored

2 of 2

verb

past tense of disfavor
1
as in hated
to feel dislike for a style of stage acting that is disfavored by most theatergoers today

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disliked
to hold an unfavorable opinion of polls showing that this political candidate is highly disfavored by most voters

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of disfavored
Adjective
Since then, the cancellation of funds, or threats to do so, for disfavored places or programs have become commonplace. — Austin Sarat, The Conversation, 24 July 2026 Even temporary sales slumps breed alarmist pronouncements; book parties in disfavored genres begin to feel like wakes, sending off one more spirit to the inevitable afterworld of the remainder shelf. — Gal Beckerman, The Atlantic, 2 July 2026 The network also has blasted the early renewal process as an effort to chill disfavored speech. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 June 2026 On Wednesday morning, that tally stood at a hefty seven hundred and thirty-four, with cases ranging from the President’s immigration policies to his dismantling of disfavored agencies to his effort to punish law firms to his ban on transgender athletes in women’s sports. — Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 1 Apr. 2026 As the court expressly recognized, the First Amendment draws a line, which the government may not cross, at efforts to use government power—including the power of the purse—‘to punish or suppress disfavored expression’ by others. — Todd Spangler, Variety, 31 Mar. 2026 In the ruling, the court concluded that the administration attempted to suppress disfavored news coverage by singling out two speakers on the basis of their speech. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 31 Mar. 2026 Earlier this year, we were advised to avoid using words included on the government’s growing list of disfavored words. — Leslie Fields-Cruz, IndieWire, 27 Nov. 2025 Some curbed its oversight over sister branches, others installed term limits or mandated a retirement age for justices, and still others granted the Senate the power to overrule disfavored opinions and require new justices to have prior judicial experience. — Time, 14 Nov. 2025
Verb
About seven years ago, Parviz Afshari—Sam’s father—lived in Karaj and worked for a conglomerate whose essential purpose was to confiscate private property from dissidents, ethnic minorities, and other people disfavored by the government. — Laura Secor, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026 Although a decreasing majority of Republicans still favors the Jewish state, it is disfavored by 80% of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, up from 53% last year. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 16 June 2026 Musero said that evidence in the trial would show that the lists signaled to other agents that he was disfavored and shouldn’t be submitted for work opportunities. — Winston Cho, HollywoodReporter, 10 Mar. 2026 Research that could be seen as disfavored by one political party may not get done because of the fear it could be terminated with a change in administration. — Anil Oza, STAT, 6 Feb. 2026 Data indicates these petitions are granted less than 1% of the time and are particularly disfavored in the Second Circuit. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 19 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disfavored
  1. despised
  2. hated
  3. disliked
  4. rejected
  5. criticized
Adjective
  • The despised Colonel Protheroe is found dead in the vicarage study by Reverend Leonard Clement (Kit Harington).
    — Andreas Wiseman, Deadline, 15 July 2026
  • Smith had slapped Chris Rock onstage at the Academy Awards, and was suddenly one of the most despised actors in America.
    — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 20 Apr. 2026
Definition of despised
Verb
  • This is the political bedrock of that, and people are just tired of the massive Hindu-Muslim-who-is-to-be-hated sentiment.
    — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026
  • The guy who hated selling himself turned out to be very good at helping sell everyone else.
    — JP Mangalindan, Entertainment Weekly, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of hated
Verb
  • Previous-generation Outbacks were functional but had an unfortunate tendency to look as though their infotainment system had been installed by somebody who strongly disliked both computers and human beings.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Clark, who singlehandedly brought ratings and attendance up, to the point where the players now receive significantly better salaries and travel benefits, is widely disliked across the league and by many fans of other teams.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of disliked
Verb
  • But others have rejected the idea that the system failed Clancy and have been highly critical of her supporters, including conservative commentators Matt Walsh and Megyn Kelly.
    — N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Last year, Manchester United were in discussions with him and made a loan bid in the latter stages of the summer transfer window which was rejected.
    — David Ornstein, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of rejected
Verb
  • Some parties, including wildfire survivors and some lawmakers that represent fire-scarred districts, had criticized his accountability measures as too loose.
    — Stephen Hobbs, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • But the union representing former Spirit flight attendants has criticized the carrier for selling the data.
    — Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of criticized

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Cite this Entry

“Disfavored.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disfavored. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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