English adjective: negative | |||
1. | negative characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features | ||
Samples | A negative outlook on life. A colorless negative personality. A negative evaluation. A negative reaction to an advertising campaign. | ||
Similar | antagonistic, counter, perverse | ||
See also | destructive, pessimistic, unsupportive | ||
Attribute | quality | ||
Antonyms | positive, neutral | ||
2. | negative expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial | ||
Similar | dissentient, dissenting, dissident | ||
See also | disinclined, unfavorable, unfavourable | ||
Antonyms | affirmative, affirmatory | ||
3. | negative having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant | ||
Samples | Ran a negative campaign. Delinquents retarded by their negative outlook on life. | ||
Similar | bad | ||
Antonyms | good | ||
4. | negative not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition | ||
Samples | The HIV test was negative. | ||
Synonyms | disconfirming | ||
Similar | Gram-negative | ||
Domain category | medical specialty, medicine | ||
Antonyms | confirming, positive | ||
5. | negative reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive | ||
Samples | Negative interest rates. | ||
Antonyms | positive | ||
6. | negative less than zero | ||
Samples | A negative number. | ||
Similar | minus | ||
Domain category | math, mathematics, maths | ||
Antonyms | plus | ||
7. | negative designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions | ||
Samples | Negative criticism. | ||
Synonyms | damaging | ||
Similar | destructive | ||
Antonyms | constructive | ||
8. | negative having a negative charge | ||
Samples | Electrons are negative. | ||
Synonyms | electronegative, negatively charged | ||
Similar | charged | ||
Antonyms | uncharged | ||
9. | negative involving disadvantage or harm | ||
Samples | Minus (or negative) factors. | ||
Synonyms | minus | ||
Similar | disadvantageous | ||
Antonyms | advantageous | ||
English noun: negative | |||
1. | negative (communication) a reply of denial | ||
Samples | He answered in the negative. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | denial | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | double negative, nay, no | ||
Antonyms | affirmative | ||
2. | negative (artifact) a piece of photographic film showing an image with light and shade or colors reversed | ||
Broader (hypernym) | film, photographic film | ||
English verb: negative | |||
1. | negative (social) vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent | ||
Samples | The President vetoed the bill. | ||
Synonyms | blackball, veto | ||
Pattern of use | Somebody ----s something | ||
Broader (hypernym) | contradict, controvert, oppose | ||
Narrower (hyponym) | defeat, kill, shoot down, vote down, vote out | ||
Entail | vote | ||