Synonyms for untoward
- adjective
Most common
unfortunate adverse inconvenient unfavorable US troublesome perverse unseemly thwart
Synonyms by meaning
Adjective
1. Adverse — unfavourable, adverse, or disadvantageous
adverse, unfortunate, unfavorable US, unfavourable UK, inconvenient, inauspicious, bad, sinister, disastrous, unlucky, unpromising, disadvantageous, harmful, dire, ill-starred, ill-fated, unpropitious, ill-omened
2. Troublesome — unruly, troublesome; not easily guided
troublesome, perverse, annoying, vexatious, awkward, uncontrollable, unruly, difficult, intractable, unmanageable, fractious, stubborn, ungovernable, froward dated
3. Unseemly — unseemly, improper
unseemly, improper, unbecoming, indecent, immodest, indecorous, uncomely, indelicate, ungodly, unsuitable, unfit
Other
Definitions
- adj. 1
Unfavourable, adverse, or disadvantageous.
- adj. 2
Unruly, troublesome; not easily guided.
- adj. 3
Unseemly, improper.
Choose the right word
Wayward refers to a perverse disregard of morality and duty; froward is practically obsolete; untoward is rarely heard except in certain phrases; as, untoward circumstances.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- unfortunate He has shown remorse for the unfortunate incident.
- adverse Many intelligent people are not adverse to sex.
- inconvenient Illness can often occur at a very inconvenient time.
- unfavorable She bore up well under unfavorable circumstances.
- troublesome Nothing is troublesome that one does willingly.
- perverse Layla was victim to Sami's every perverse whim.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| untoward | steady | |
| unfortunate | falling | |
| adverse | steady | |
| inconvenient | steady | |
| unfavorable | falling | |
| troublesome | falling |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 3 letters
- bad1
- 4 letters
- dire1
- 5 letters
- unfit2
- 6 letters
- unruly3, thwart1
- 7 letters
- awkward2, harmful2, adverse2, unlucky3, ungodly3, froward
- 8 letters
- annoying3, stubborn2, sinister3, improper3, perverse2, indecent3, unseemly3, immodest, uncomely
- 9 letters
- difficult3, vexatious3, fractious2
- 10 letters
- disastrous3, unsuitable4, unbecoming4, indelicate4, indecorous
- 11 letters
- unfortunate4, troublesome3, unfavorable5, intractable4, unpromising4
- 12 letters
- inconvenient4, unfavourable, unmanageable5, inauspicious4, ungovernable5, unpropitious
- 14 letters
- uncontrollable5
- 15 letters
- disadvantageous5
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (unfit2 = 2 syllables).