1
as in rebellious
given to resisting authority or another's control
tried to reason with the untoward child
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2
as in uncontrollable
given to resisting control or discipline by others
a program for untoward teenagers that is designed to give them the kind of discipline that their parents were unable or unwilling to administer
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3
as in adverse
opposed to one's interests
achieved great success as an artist despite growing up in a very untoward milieu
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4
as in inappropriate
not appropriate for a particular occasion or situation
unfortunately, one of the symptoms of dementia can be a tendency to make untoward and often shocking remarks
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of untoward
And the ratios in the new box have the right numbers—no untoward gaps to reduce your forward momentum.
—
Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 26 Jan. 2023
Emmy Rose took a moment to think about how many of her grandmother’s songs accuse her husband, Doolittle, of untoward behavior with other women.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2022
These stories are often stitched together to hint at something untoward lurking beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2022
Believing that any untoward behavior can be compartmentalized away is a mindset of the past.
—Marie-Caroline Chauvet, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for untoward
Patrick Bedard, Car and Driver, 26 Jan. 2023
Emmy Rose took a moment to think about how many of her grandmother’s songs accuse her husband, Doolittle, of untoward behavior with other women.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2022
These stories are often stitched together to hint at something untoward lurking beneath the surface of the Atlantic Ocean.
—Nathaniel Scharping, Discover Magazine, 1 Nov. 2022
Believing that any untoward behavior can be compartmentalized away is a mindset of the past.
—Marie-Caroline Chauvet, Fortune, 30 Aug. 2022
See All Example Sentences for untoward
Recent Examples of Synonyms for untoward
Adjective
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In addition, parents who are too strict might even end up with kids who are extra rebellious.—
Taylor Grothe,
Parents,
26 Feb. 2025
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Boon will play Eddie Harrigan, Kevin’s rebellious son.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The most dramatic case study occurred this week, when Trump signed two executive orders instituting a tariff regime on goods entering the United States from Canada and Mexico in response to what the White House argues is an uncontrollable scourge of migrants and drugs coming from those countries.—
Daniel DePetris,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Feb. 2025
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These high winds, combined with low humidity, have created a significant fire weather risk, with forecasters warning that any ignition could lead to fast-growing, uncontrollable fires.—
Hannah Parry,
Newsweek,
7 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Environmental groups have long opposed the new reservoir and objected to a shorter judicial review, saying the project will release unacceptable amounts of methane, a greenhouse gas, into the air in addition to other adverse impacts.—
Ari Plachta,
Sacramento Bee,
28 Feb. 2025
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The advertisements also are subject to content restrictions, including no profanity, violence, firearms or material adverse to the city’s commercial interests.—
Devan Patel,
The Mercury News,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While booting a car may be an appropriate remedy to curb parking violations, booting a car that also immobilizes other non-offending vehicles is inappropriate.—
Gary Singer,
Sun Sentinel,
27 Feb. 2025
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Doing so discourages inappropriate behavior with clear sanctions that are duly communicated to the entire organization, while good behavior is rewarded.—
Susana Sierra,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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The attacks started this week after reports emerged that Assad loyalists had ambushed and killed members of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham – the rebel group that spearheaded the rebellion that ousted the former Syrian leader.—
Mostafa Salem,
CNN,
9 Mar. 2025
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The singer and the songwriter traversed the frontlines of the urban guerrilla war that had consumed the city of Homs by that point, with one half of the city overtaken by regime soldiers and the other half controlled by rebel groups.—
Jawad Rizkallah,
NPR,
5 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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These unfavorable political circumstances for Hochul would seem to set up a primary challenge from the left, the traditional path to denying incumbent officeholders renomination in Democratic primaries.—
David Mark,
Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government,
28 Feb. 2025
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Amid a slew of unfavorable sports outcomes in last year’s fourth quarter, Flutter projects U.S. quarterly revenues of $1.59 billion.—
Matt Rybaltowski,
Forbes,
27 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Like the House bill, its text has not yet been released. DEA hearings on the rescheduling proposal have been delayed by at least three months due to appeals from pro-reform witnesses claiming improper communications between the DEA and certain opponents.—
Dario Sabaghi,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
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After reviewing body camera footage of the incident as part of its internal investigation, the department recommended that the officer receive a two-day suspension for the improper search allegation.—
Libor Jany,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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While bullishness indicates positive views on the market, it can also be seen as a contrary indicator when there are signs of excess.—
Yun Li,
CNBC,
25 Feb. 2025
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Clueless owner allows manipulative, conniving GM to convince him, in the face of mountains of contrary evidence, that the head coach is the problem.—
Jeff Howe,
The Athletic,
24 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Untoward.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/untoward. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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