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negative

Negative means focused on what is bad or lacking. A negative ad tells you bad things about the competition. A negative person loves to complain.

In math, a negative number is less than zero. People who see the glass half empty have a negative outlook. Ask your mom for ice cream and receive an answer in the negative? Don't be too negative back to her, or it'll be a while before you have another chance at ice cream.

PRIMARY MEANINGS OF: negative

1
 adjnv
characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features
a reply of denial
vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent
2
 adj
involving disadvantage or harm
3
 adj
reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive
4
 n
a piece of photographic film showing an image with light and shade or colors reversed
FULL DEFINITIONS OF: negative
1

adj characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features

“a negative outlook on life”
“a colorless negative personality”
“a negative evaluation”
“a negative reaction to an advertising campaign”
Synonyms
destructive
causing destruction or much damage
pessimistic
expecting the worst possible outcome
antagonistic, counter
indicating opposition or resistance
perverse
marked by a disposition to oppose and contradict
unsupportive
not furnishing support or assistance
Antonyms:
positive
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
neutral
possessing no distinctive quality or characteristics
affirmative, affirmatory
affirming or giving assent
constructive
constructing or tending to construct or improve or promote development
optimistic
expecting the best in this best of all possible worlds
affirmative, optimistic
expecting the best
constructive
emphasizing what is laudable or hopeful or to the good
neutralised, neutralized
made neutral in some respect; deprived of distinctive characteristics
viewless
not having or expressing opinions or views
supportive
furnishing support or assistance
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adj expressing or consisting of a negation or refusal or denial

Synonyms
dissentient, dissenting, dissident
disagreeing, especially with a majority
unfavorable, unfavourable
not encouraging or approving or pleasing
disinclined
unwilling because of mild dislike or disapproval
Antonyms:
affirmative, affirmatory
affirming or giving assent
assentient
expressing agreement or consent
favorable, favourable
encouraging or approving or pleasing
positive
characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.
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adj not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition

“the HIV test was negative”
Synonyms:
disconfirming
Gram-negative
(of bacteria) being of or relating to a bacterium that does not retain the violet stain used in Gram's method
Antonyms:
confirming, positive
indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen
Gram-positive
(of bacteria) being or relating to a bacterium that retains the violet stain used in Gram's method
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adj having a negative charge

“electrons are negative”
Synonyms:
electronegative, negatively charged
charged
of a particle or body or system; having a net amount of positive or negative electric charge

n a reply of denial

“he answered in the negative”
Antonyms:
affirmative
a reply of affirmation
Types:
no
a negative
nay
a negative
double negative
a grammatically substandard but emphatic negative
Type of:
denial
the act of refusing to comply (as with a request)

v vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent

Synonyms:
blackball, veto
Types:
defeat, kill, shoot down, vote down, vote out
thwart the passage of
Type of:
contradict, controvert, oppose
be resistant to
2

adj involving disadvantage or harm

Synonyms:
minus
disadvantageous
constituting a disadvantage

adj having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant

“ran a negative campaign”
“delinquents retarded by their negative outlook on life”
Synonyms
bad
having undesirable or negative qualities

adj designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions

“negative criticism”
Synonyms:
damaging
destructive
causing destruction or much damage
3

adj reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive

“negative interest rates”
Antonyms:
positive
reckoned, situated or tending in the direction which naturally or arbitrarily is taken to indicate increase or progress or onward motion

adj less than zero

“a negative number”
Synonyms
minus
on the negative side or lower end of a scale
4

n a piece of photographic film showing an image with light and shade or colors reversed

Type of:
film, photographic film
photographic material consisting of a base of celluloid covered with a photographic emulsion; used to make negatives or transparencies
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