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When learning English, understanding synonyms for common words can greatly expand your vocabulary. This reference is focused on the word “negative” and provides various synonyms along with examples. You will find lists of synonyms and useful infographics that illustrate their use. The goal is to help you improve your language skills by learning different ways to say “negative”.
Negative Synonyms
What Is “Negative”?
- Example: “She has a negative attitude towards challenges.”
List of Synonyms for Negative
- Antagonistic
- Antipathetic
- Apathetic
- Bleak
- Contrary
- Cynical
- Defeatist
- Dismissive
- Fatalistic
- Gloomy
- Jaundiced
- Obstructive
- Pessimistic
- Uncooperative
- Unenthusiastic
- Uninterested
- Unresponsive
Types of Synonyms for Negative
Mathematics:
- A value less than zero, often represented with a minus sign (-).
- Example: “-5 is a negative number.”
Science (Electricity):
- Referring to a charge that has an excess of electrons.
- Example: “Electrons carry a negative charge.”
Medical Tests:
- A result indicating the absence of a condition, disease, or substance.
- Example: “Her test results came back negative for the virus.”
Photography:
- A reversed image on film used to produce a photograph.
- Example: “The negatives of the photos were stored in an album.”
Grammar:
- Refers to words or constructions that deny or contradict something.
- Example: “‘No’ and ‘not’ are negative words.”
Social or Emotional Context:
- A pessimistic or critical outlook or effect.
- Example: “Focusing on the negatives won’t solve the problem.”
Common Synonyms for Negative
Learn another word for negative with example sentences.
- Antagonistic
He’s extremely antagonistic towards all critics.
- Antipathetic
It’s human nature to be antipathetic to change.
- Apathetic
Young people today are so apathetic about politics.
- Bleak
The future looks bleak for the fishing industry.
- Contrary
Mrs. Smith is too contrary to make friends easily.
- Cynical
I think she takes a rather cynical view of men.
- Defeatist
I don’t approve of your defeatist attitude.
- Dismissive
He’s so dismissive of anybody else’s suggestions.
- Fatalistic
Being fatalistic about your chances will do no good.
- Gloomy
They took a gloomy view about the whole thing.
- Jaundiced
He has a very jaundiced view of the world.
- Obstructive
Of course she can do it. She’s just being deliberately obstructive.
- Pessimistic
Not everyone is so pessimistic about the future.
- Uncooperative
I found him rude and uncooperative.
- Unenthusiastic
Susan was unenthusiastic about most of her relatives.
- Uninterested
She was completely uninterested in her sister’s career.
- Unresponsive
She is a cold, unfeeling and unresponsive woman.
Synonyms for Negative in Different Contexts
General (Pessimistic or Undesirable)
- Unfavorable
- Adverse
- Disadvantageous
- Harmful
- Detrimental
- Hostile
- Critical
- Pessimistic
Example: “The plan received negative feedback.”
Synonyms: “The plan received unfavorable feedback.”
Mathematics (Less than Zero)
- Below zero
- Minus
- Sub-zero
Example: “The temperature is negative 5 degrees.”
Synonyms: “The temperature is minus 5 degrees.”
Medical Test (Absence of Disease)
- Clear
- Normal
- Non-reactive
Example: “The test result was negative for the virus.”
Synonyms: “The test result was clear of the virus.”
Electricity (Negative Charge)
- Opposite charge
- Electron-rich
Example: “The battery has a negative terminal.”
Synonyms: “The battery has an electron-rich terminal.”
Photography (Reversed Image on Film)
- Film
- Image reversal
Example: “We developed the negatives in the darkroom.”
Synonyms: “We developed the films in the darkroom.”
Grammar (Denial or Contradiction)
- Denial
- Negation
- Contradiction
Example: “The sentence has a negative meaning.”
Synonyms: “The sentence has a denial in its meaning.”
Emotional/Social Context (Critical or Harmful Outlook)
- Gloomy
- Defeatist
- Cynical
- Skeptical
- Unenthusiastic
Example: “She has a negative attitude about life.”
Synonyms: “She has a cynical attitude about life.”
Absolute and Near Synonyms of Negative
Absolute Synonyms
These words are interchangeable with “negative” in specific contexts:
- Adverse
- Unfavorable
- Pessimistic
- Minus (in mathematics)
- Harmful
- Critical (in judgment)
- Denial (in grammar or response)
Near Synonyms
These words are similar but might differ slightly in tone, usage, or emphasis:
- Detrimental
- Opposed
- Disadvantageous
- Skeptical
- Unenthusiastic
- Non-reactive
- Clear (in medical tests)
- Electron-rich (in electricity)
- Below zero
- Sub-zero
- Deficit
- Film
- Image reversal
- Gloomy
- Cynical
- Defeatist
- Discouraging
Synonyms for Negative with Examples | Infographic
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