Untoward

Pronunciation: /ʌnˈtɔːrd/

Definitions of untoward

adjective Not favorable; improper or inappropriate; unexpected and unpleasant.

Example Sentences

A1 The teacher noticed some untoward behavior in the classroom.

A2 The weather took an untoward turn, causing delays in our travel plans.

B1 The company faced untoward consequences due to their unethical business practices.

B2 The politician's untoward remarks sparked controversy among the public.

C1 The untoward incident led to a thorough investigation by the authorities.

C2 She handled the untoward situation with grace and composure.

Examples of untoward in a Sentence

formal The company took immediate action to address any untoward behavior in the workplace.

informal I heard there was some untoward gossip going around the office.

slang I can't believe the untoward comments that guy made at the meeting.

figurative The dark clouds in the sky were an untoward sign of the impending storm.

Grammatical Forms of untoward

• past tense: untowarded
• plural: untowards
• comparative: more untoward
• superlative: most untoward
• present tense: untowards
• future tense: will untoward
• perfect tense: have untoward
• continuous tense: is untowarding
• singular: untoward
• positive degree: untoward
• infinitive: to untoward
• gerund: untowarding
• participle: untowarded

Origin and Evolution of untoward

First Known Use: 1250 year

Language of Origin: Middle English

Story behind the word: The word 'untoward' originated from Middle English, derived from the combination of 'un-' (meaning 'not') and 'toward' (meaning 'favorable').

Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'untoward' has maintained its original meaning of 'not favorable' or 'inappropriate', but has also come to be used more broadly to describe any unexpected or undesirable events or behavior.