disapprobation

D2I1S1A1P3P3R1O1B3A1T1I1O1N1
UK/dɪsˌæpɹəˈbeɪʃən/

noun

An act or expression of condemnation or disapproval, especially on moral grounds.

Opposite
RareScrabble 21

Meanings

noundisapprobation (countable and uncountable, plural disapprobations)

plural disapprobations

  1. countableuncountableAn act or expression of condemnation or disapproval, especially on moral grounds.

    Elizabeth would wonder, and probably would blame her; and though her resolution was not to be shaken, her feelings must be hurt by such disapprobation.

    1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter XXII, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume I, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 287
    4 more examples

    Though a gentle Sigh which ſtole from the Boſom of Nancy, ſeemed to argue ſome ſecret Diſapprobation of theſe Sentiments, ſhe did not dare openly to oppoſe them.

    1749, Henry Fielding, “What arrived while the Company were at Breakfast, with some Hints concerning the Government of Daughters”, in The History of Tom Jones, a Foundling, volume V, London: A[ndrew] Millar, […], →OCLC, book XIII, page 48

    Believe me, I have no warmer sentiment to bestow; and even if I had I could not indulge it, since it would meet with the decided disapprobation of my family, and never could I bring myself to act in opposition to them.

    1838, [Letitia Elizabeth] Landon (indicated as editor), chapter X, in Duty and Inclination: […], volume III, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 131

    And not only these acts, but the dispositions which lead to them, are properly immoral, and fit subjects of disapprobation which may rise to abhorrence.

    1859, John Stuart Mill, “Applications”, in On Liberty, London: John W[illiam] Parker and Son, […], →OCLC, page 140

    No one seems to think so, however. Yet they view my arrival with a knapsack on my back with cold disapprobation, as unseemly as if I had arrived riding on a pig. I ought to be in a carriage, and the knapsack ought to be a new suitcase.

    1921, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, “As Far as Palermo”, in Sea and Sardinia, New York, N.Y.: Thomas Seltzer, →OCLC, page 21

    Synonyms: censure, damnation, improbation, attainder, attainture, attaintment, blame, censure · Antonyms: approbation

Synonyms & antonyms

More synonyms by meaning

nounan expression of strong disapproval; pronouncing as wrong or morally culpable

Opposite

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Origin

  1. Latindis-
  2. Old Frenchdes-
  3. Latindis-
  4. Middle Englishdis-
  5. Englishdis-
  6. Englishapprobation
  7. Englishdisapprobation

From dis- + approbation.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Bulgarian неодобрение
  • неодобрение (neodobrenie)act of disapproval
Hungarian helytelenítés, rosszallás
  • helytelenítésact of disapproval
  • rosszallásact of disapproval
  • elítélésact of disapproval
Polish dezaprobata, krytyka
  • dezaprobataact of disapproval
  • krytykaact of disapproval
Romanian dezaprobare
  • dezaprobareact of disapproval
Spanish desaprobación
  • desaprobaciónact of disapproval

Rhymes & wordplay

Rhymes with disapprobation

All rhymes →
Cite this entry
APA

disapprobation. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disapprobation

MLA

“disapprobation.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disapprobation. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “disapprobation,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/disapprobation.

Source: disapprobation on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.