DISFAVORED Synonyms: 99 Similar and Opposite Words

disfavored 1 of 2

adjective

as in despised

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disfavored

2 of 2

verb

past tense of disfavor

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

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

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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

Defendants do not—and cannot—dispute that the First Amendment prohibits the government from exercising its regulatory powers to retaliate against a media organization for disfavored speech. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 17 Sep. 2026 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 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

Unfortunately, this format was disfavored by mainstream publishers. — Literary Hub, 8 Oct. 2026 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

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

But Staley was hated and run out of Los Angeles after posting a 24-24 regular-season record and zero playoff wins in nearly three seasons.

— Dan Zaksheske OutKick, FOXNews.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Wall Street would have hated it, which may be why Yoshida never gave Wall Street the chance.

— Matt Alt, Fortune, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of hated

Verb

In 2014, Rosie O’Donnell briefly returned after seven years away, but, according to Setoodeh, she was widely disliked by many at the network.

— Brock Colyar, Vulture, 16 Oct. 2026
These small transgressions added up to a sense of ourselves as special, exempt from the rules—but also disliked, distrusted, untrustworthy, apart.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Sep. 2026

Definition of disliked

Verb

Wilson, the attorney general, also rejected the conclusion that EdChoice harms public education.

— Bilin Lin, Fortune, 20 Oct. 2026
Trump’s claims have been rejected by the courts and even since his return to the White House in 2025 no evidence of widespread fraud has been surfaced.

— Mathew Miranda, Sacbee.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of rejected

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“Disfavored.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/disfavored. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of disfavored

adjective

verb

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