unfavourable

Adjective

unfavourable (comparative more unfavourable, superlative most unfavourable)

1. (UK) Serving to hinder or oppose; adverse, disadvantageous, inconducive, unsuitable.
   • The shade of a dense pine wood, is more unfavorable to the springing up of pines of the same species than of oaks within it.1863, Henry David Thoreau, chapter 6, in Excursions
   • About 200 guests were invited and entertained to lunch in the so-called booking hall at Waterloo; the contractors, Spiers & Pond Limited, were much praised for organising the repast, with attendant cloak room facilities, so well in such unfavourable surroundings.1958 August, T. S. Lascelles, “Diamond Jubilee of the Waterloo & City Railway”, in Railway Magazine, page 523

   Antonyms:

   favourable

2. (UK) Not auspicious; ill-boding.
   • Elizabeth was now most heartily sorry that she had, from the distress of the moment, been led to make Mr. Darcy acquainted with their fears for her sister; for since her marriage would so shortly give the proper termination to the elopement, they might hope to conceal its unfavourable beginning...1813 January 27, [Jane Austen], chapter VIII, in Pride and Prejudice: […], volume III, London: […] [George Sidney] for T[homas] Egerton, […], →OCLC, page 148
   • The fact that the bride went through the ceremony without her bridal bouquet is looked upon by many as an unfavorable omen.1903, Anna Katharine Green, chapter 6, in The Filigree Ball

   Synonyms:

   inauspicious, unfortunate, down on one's luck, fortuneless, ill-boding, ill-fated, ill-starred, infelicitous, infortunate, hapless

   Antonyms:

   favourable, fortunate, charmed, fortuitous, freak, happy, lucky, providential, serendipitous, sonsy

3. (UK) Of a belief, state of mind, etc.: not favourable; disapproving.
   • [Y]et the thing she most dreaded was to offend the gypsies, by betraying her extremely unfavourable opinion of them, [...]1860, George Eliot [pseudonym; Mary Ann Evans], “Maggie Tries to Run Away from Her Shadow”, in The Mill on the Floss […], volume I, Edinburgh; London: William Blackwood and Sons, →OCLC, book I (Boy...

   Synonyms:

   favourable

4. (UK) Of wind or weather: causing delay or obstacles; not conducive to travel or work; inclement.
   • The wind was right under the land, the tide unfavorable.1855, Herman Melville, chapter 17, in Israel Potter