untoward
UK /ˌʌn.tʊˈwɔːd/ · US /ˌʌn.təˈwɔɹd/ adjective
- adjective Unfavourable, adverse, or disadvantageous.
- adjective Unruly, troublesome; not easily guided.
- adjective Unseemly, improper.
Synonyms
adverse disadvantageous inconvenient unfavorable unfortunate difficult fractious stubborn troublesome uncontrollable unruly immodest improper unseemly indecent indecorous unbecoming uncomely inauspicious
Etymology
From un- + toward (“to + -ward”).
Webster’s 1913
- preposition Toward. [Obs.] Gower.
- adjective Froward; perverse. "Save yourselves from this untoward generation." Acts ii. 40.
- adjective Awkward; ungraceful. "Untoward words." Creech. "Untoward manner." Swift.
Etymology [Unto + -ward.]
Etymology [Pref. un- not + toward.]
Sources: Wiktionary · WordNet 3.0 · Webster’s 1913 — from the Wiktionary entry “untoward”, CC BY-SA 4.0. Details