disapprove

UK: /ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/ US: /ˌdɪsəˈpruv/ ,(dis′ə pro̅o̅v′)

Inflections of 'disapprove' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

disapproves

v 3rd person singular

disapproving

v pres p

disapproved

v past

disapproved

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ap•prove /ˌdɪsəˈpruv/   v., -proved, -prov•ing. 

1. to withhold approval from;
   refuse to allow:
   [~ + object] Her request to be rehired was disapproved by the committee.
2. to have an unfavorable opinion;
   express disapproval: [no object]
   She wants to go away to college but her parents disapprove.
   [~ + of + object]
   Her parents disapprove of her plan to go away to college.

dis•ap•prov•al, n. 

[uncountable] gave me a frowning look of disapproval.

dis•ap•prov•ing•ly, adv. See -prov-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

dis•ap•prove  (dis′ə pro̅o̅v′), v., -proved, -prov•ing. 
v.t. 

1. to think (something) wrong or reprehensible;
   censure or condemn in opinion.
2. to withhold approval from;
   decline to sanction:
   The Senate disapproved the nominations.

v.i. 

3. to have an unfavorable opinion;
   express disapproval (usually fol. by of ).

• dis-¹ + approve 1475–85

dis′ap•prov′er, n. 
dis′ap•prov′ing•ly, adv. 
Synonyms

• 1. deplore, decry, criticize.

Antonyms

• 1. praise.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

disapprove / ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/ verb

1. (intransitive) often followed by of: to consider wrong, bad, etc
2. (transitive) to withhold approval from

ˌdisapˈproving adjective

ˌdisapˈprovingly adverb