INDEX:
1. to think that someone or something is bad or morally wrong
2. to say that you disapprove of something or someone
3. to look at someone in a disapproving way
4. showing disapproval
RELATED WORDS
opposite
↑ APPROVE
see also
↑ CRITICIZE
↑ BAD
↑ OPINION
↑ JUDGE
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1. to think that someone or something is bad or morally wrong
▷ disapprove /ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/ [intransitive verb]
to think that someone or something is bad, morally wrong, or very stupid :
▪ I could tell from my mother’s face that she disapproved.
disapprove of
▪ A lot of church leaders disapproved of the book when it was first published.
disapprove of somebody doing something
▪ My friends disapprove of me smoking.
strongly disapprove
disapprove very much
▪ I strongly disapprove of any form of gambling.
▷ do not approve /duː nɒt əˈpruːv/ [verb phrase]
to think that someone or something is bad, morally wrong, or very stupid :
do not approve of
▪ His mother clearly did not approve of Sophie.
do not approve of somebody doing something
▪ You know I don’t approve of you smoking.
▷ disapproval /ˌdɪsəˈpruːv ə l/ [uncountable noun]
how you feel when you think someone’s ideas, behaviour, or actions are bad or morally wrong :
do something with disapproval
▪ She looked at our clothes with obvious disapproval.
somebody’s disapproval/the disapproval of somebody
▪ Peter was determined to go to art school, despite his parents’ disapproval.
▷ think something is wrong /ˌθɪŋk something ɪz ˈrɒŋǁ-ˈrɔːŋ/ [verb phrase]
to think that something is morally wrong and should not happen :
▪ A lot of people now think that killing animals for food is wrong.
think it is wrong to do something
▪ I think it’s wrong to hit a child, whatever the circumstances.
▷ frown on/upon /ˈfraʊn ɒn, əpɒn/ [transitive phrasal verb]
if a group of people frown on or upon a particular kind of behaviour, they think that it is not the right way to behave :
▪ The people who went to church frowned on those who spent Sunday mornings in bed.
▪ Romantic relationships between teachers and students are frowned upon by the college authorities.
▷ take a dim view of /teɪk ə ˌdɪm ˈvjuː ɒv/ [verb phrase]
to disapprove of someone’s behaviour - use this especially about someone in authority or someone who could take action to stop the behaviour :
▪ The school takes a very dim view of this behaviour.
▪ The electorate took a dim view of the tax increase.
▷ have a low opinion of /hæv ə ˌləʊ əˈpɪnjən ɒv/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to think that a particular person or group of people has a bad character, so that you do not respect them :
▪ I’m afraid I have a rather low opinion of Mr Evans.
▪ He had a very low opinion of insurance salesmen.
▷ think badly of /ˌθɪŋk ˈbædli ɒv/ [verb phrase not in progressive]
to disapprove of someone because of a particular thing they have done :
▪ I didn’t want my parents or teachers to think badly of me.
▪ Please, Harry, you mustn’t think badly of me. I had no choice.
▷ not hold with /nɒt ˈhəʊld wɪð/ [verb phrase not in progressive] informal
to strongly disapprove of a particular kind of behaviour, attitude, or idea :
▪ I don’t hold with racism. Never have, never will.
▪ Many of the older generation simply don’t hold with mixed marriages.
2. to say that you disapprove of something or someone
▷ voice/express/show etc your disapproval /ˌvɔɪs jɔːʳ dɪsəˈpruːv ə l/ [verb phrase]
to say, write, or show publicly that you disapprove of someone or something :
▪ The president expressed his disapproval of protest groups that break the law.
▪ Thousands of people have voiced their disapproval of the government.
▪ Nurses plan to show their disapproval by organizing a series of one-day strikes.
▪ How can dissatisfied taxpayers register disapproval of government policies?
▷ condemn /kənˈdem/ [transitive verb]
to clearly and publicly say that you strongly disapprove of someone or something :
▪ Politicians and religious leaders have universally condemned this act of terrorism.
▪ Lawyers were quick to condemn the new legislation.
condemn something as something
▪ The destruction of rainforests has been condemned as a disaster for the environment.
condemn somebody for doing something
▪ Local authorities have been condemned for failing to tackle the problem of homelessness.
condemnation /ˌkɒndəmˈneɪʃ ə n, -dem-ǁˌkɑːn-/ [uncountable noun]
condemn of
▪ His speech contained a strong condemnation of last week’s bomb attack.
widespread condemnation
▪ The government’s action has brought widespread condemnation from teachers.
▷ denounce /dɪˈnaʊns/ [transitive verb]
to say publicly that you strongly disapprove of something or someone and think that they are morally bad :
▪ The Republicans denounced the waste of public money involved in the new program.
▪ Community leaders were quick to denounce the police for reacting too violently to the disturbances.
denounce somebody/something as something
▪ Darwin’s theories about evolution were denounced by many people.
▷ deplore /dɪˈplɔːʳ/ [transitive verb] formal
to say that you strongly disapprove of a particular kind of behaviour or something that has happened, because it is morally wrong :
▪ We deplore the use of violence against innocent people.
▪ The United Nations has issued a statement deploring the continued fighting.
3. to look at someone in a disapproving way
▷ give somebody a dirty look /ˌgɪv somebody ə ˌdɜːʳti ˈlʊk/ [verb phrase] informal
to look quickly and angrily at someone in a way that shows you disapprove strongly of what they have said or done :
▪ Frank turned round and gave me a really dirty look.
▷ frown /fraʊn/ [intransitive verb]
to look slightly unhappy or annoyed, because you disapprove of something :
▪ Mr Bonner frowned and pursed his lips, but said nothing.
frown at
▪ Mrs Gold frowned at the children, who were getting mud all over their clothes.
▷ glare at /ˈgleər æt/ [verb phrase]
to look at someone in a way that shows that you are very angry with them :
▪ Roger glared angrily at her across the dinner table.
4. showing disapproval
▷ disapproving /ˌdɪsəˈpruːvɪŋ◂/ [adjective]
if someone speaks to you or looks at you in a disapproving way, they show by the way they talk or look that they disapprove of you :
▪ The announcement of a further pay increase for politicians provoked disapproving comments from the leader of the opposition party.
disapproving glance/look/stare
▪ John gave me a disapproving look when I suggested another drink.
▷ derogatory /dɪˈrɒgət ə riǁdɪˈrɑːgətɔːri/ [adjective]
a derogatory remark expresses disapproval of something or someone and is often also insulting :
▪ I wish you wouldn’t make derogatory remarks about members of my family.
▪ I didn’t like the way he made derogatory comments about his colleagues.
▷ pejorative /pɪˈdʒɒrətɪvǁ-ˈdʒɔː-, -ˈdʒɑː-/ [adjective] formal
a pejorative word expresses disapproval, often in an offensive way :
▪ He used the word ‘girl’ in the pejorative sense when referring to the women who worked for him.
pejoratively [adverb]
▪ The word ‘liberal’ seems to be used prejoratively by both the left and the right.