WordGarden.iodisapprove
B2Pronunciation
UK
- /dˌɪsəprˈuːv/
US
- /ˌdɪsəˈpruv/
Meanings
Verb
to have or express an unfavorable opinion of someone or something
to formally refuse to approve or authorize something
Beyond the definition
Imagine your little brother wants to paint the living room bright orange. If you think that's a terrible idea, you disapprove of it. To disapprove of something means you don't just dislike it; you don't agree with it or you believe it's fundamentally wrong. It's stronger than a simple dislike because it implies a judgment. Parents might disapprove of their teenager dating someone much older, and teachers will certainly disapprove of students cheating on tests. Sometimes disapproval is expressed openly with words, but often it's a feeling held internally. You can disapprove of an action, a person's behavior, or even a proposed plan.
To disapprove means to have or express an unfavorable opinion of something or someone. It goes beyond simple disagreement; it suggests a moral or ethical objection, or a strong feeling that something is unsuitable or inappropriate. When you disapprove, you are measuring an action against a standard of what you believe is "right" or "correct."
You might disapprove of a friend's choices if you believe those choices are harmful to their well-being. In a work environment, a strict boss might disapprove of employees taking long, unscheduled lunch breaks. Historically, societal norms have strongly influenced what people would disapprove of—for example, unconventional clothing or non-traditional lifestyles often faced disapproval in the past.
Disapproval can be expressed directly through verbal feedback ("I disapprove of your behavior!") or indirectly through body language, such as a frown or a shake of the head. It can also be implied; someone might not explicitly state their stance, but their cold reaction or lack of support clearly shows they disapprove. The level of intensity can range from mild disagreement to a strong, public condemnation.
While the word dislike simply means you don't enjoy something, disapprove suggests a judgment about its appropriateness. You might dislike a specific type of music, but you would disapprove of someone being intentionally rude to a waiter. One is a matter of taste, while the other is a matter of principle.
Examples
- 1
Family opinion
My parents disapprove of tattoos.
- 2
Workplace rules
She strongly disapproves of employees checking their phones during meetings.
- Patterndisapprove of + someone doing something
think it is wrong for them to do it
- 3
Facial expression
He never said anything directly, but his expression showed that he disapproved.
- 4
Institutional response
The school disapproved of the way the article described its students.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Political opinion
Many voters disapprove of the government's handling of the crisis.
- 6
Passive form
In our office, smoking is strongly disapproved of.
- Grammarbe disapproved of
be seen as unacceptable
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- disapproveverb
Forms
- disapprovedpast tenseverb
- disapproving-ing formverb
- disapprovesverb