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
The network also has blasted the early renewal process as an effort to chill disfavored speech. — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 June 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 Such cases show how grantees may avoid disfavored topics or rewrite proposals to fit the administration in power. — Mirae Kim, The Conversation, 15 June 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 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 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 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 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
Verb
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 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for disfavored
  1. despised
  2. hated
  3. disliked
  4. rejected
  5. criticized
Adjective
  • 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
  • This is a despised company right now.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 26 Feb. 2026
Definition of despised
Verb
  • One loved the script, and the other hated the script and didn't want to do it.
    — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 3 July 2026
  • The billionaires so hated by Democrats and certain Republicans have ways to escape this tax.
    — Steve Forbes, Forbes.com, 26 June 2026
Definition of hated
Verb
  • Lauer, who publicly disliked his bulk relief role with the Blue Jays, is now returning to a traditional starting role with the Dodgers.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
  • The book-club members roundly disliked it, indignant that the character was being driven mad by perimenopause, as if hormone-replacement therapy didn’t exist.
    — Melanie Thernstrom, New Yorker, 29 June 2026
Definition of disliked
Verb
  • The Yolo County Board of Supervisors rejected those findings.
    — Madisen Keavy, CBS News, 2 July 2026
  • In May, the EEOC filed a discrimination lawsuit against the New York Times alleging discrimination against a white male employee, which the Times has rejected as politically motivated.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
Definition of rejected
Verb
  • The program posed a massive political problem for Mamdani, who’s been criticized by both his allies and opponents for his stance.
    — Josephine Stratman, New York Daily News, 30 June 2026
  • While state studies have criticized the state’s education governance model, voters have rejected at least four attempts dating back to 1928 to reform the position.
    — Lia Russell, Sacbee.com, 30 June 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 7 Jul. 2026.

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