untoward

[ uhn-tawrd, -tohrd ]
/ ʌnˈtɔrd, -ˈtoʊrd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR untoward ON THESAURUS.COM

adjective

unfavorable or unfortunate: Untoward circumstances forced him into bankruptcy.
improper: untoward social behavior.
Archaic. froward; perverse.

Origin of untoward

First recorded in 1520–30; un-1 + toward

OTHER WORDS FROM untoward

un·to·ward·ly, adverb un·to·ward·ness, noun

Words nearby untoward

untold, untouchability, untouchable, untouched, untouristy, untoward, untracked, untrained, untrammelled, untranslated, untraveled

Words related to untoward

unmanageable, adverse, perverse, unfortunate, disturbing, unbecoming, unseemly, inappropriate, annoying, awkward, contrary, disastrous, fractious, hapless, inauspicious, inconvenient, inimical, inopportune, intractable, irritating

Example sentences from the Web for untoward

British Dictionary definitions for untoward

untoward
/ (ˌʌntəˈwɔːd, ʌnˈtəʊəd) /

adjective

characterized by misfortune, disaster, or annoyance
not auspicious; adverse; unfavourable
unseemly or improper
out of the ordinary; out of the way
archaic refractory; perverse
obsolete awkward, ungainly, or uncouth

Derived forms of untoward

untowardly, adverb untowardness, noun