What does disapproving mean?
Disapproving is an adjective used to describe the expression or display of a negative judgment — the sense that something is wrong, improper, or unacceptable. It most often appears before nouns to characterize looks, glances, frowns, tones, and silences: a parent's disapproving stare can say more than a lecture. It also functions predicatively, typically followed by the preposition 'of', as in 'she was disapproving of his table manners'. The word carries a mildly formal but everyday tone and implies moral or social judgment rather than mere dislike; one may find a film boring without being disapproving of it. Derived from the verb 'disapprove' by addition of '-ing', it belongs to a family that includes 'disapproval' (the noun) and 'disapprovingly' (the adverb). Its antonyms include 'approving' and 'accepting'. Because much human judgment is communicated non-verbally, 'disapproving' is a precise and frequently useful word for describing those wordless verdicts.
adjectiveFeeling or showing that one thinks something is wrong, bad, or unacceptable; expressing criticism or a negative judgment.
- Expressing or showing a judgment that something is wrong or unacceptable.
- Holding a settled opinion against something; inclined to condemn.
"She gave him a disapproving glance when he reached for a third helping of dessert."
"The teacher fixed the class with a disapproving stare until the whispering stopped."
"He was disapproving of modern architecture, preferring the ornate styles of an earlier age."
That single raised eyebrow your grandmother perfected? English has an entire adjective built for it: disapproving.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of disapproving
'Disapproving' derives from the verb 'disapprove', formed in English from the prefix 'dis-' (expressing reversal or negation) combined with 'approve'. 'Approve' itself comes from the Latin 'approbare', meaning to assent to or deem good, from 'ad-' (toward) plus 'probus' (good, upright) — the same root that gives us 'probity' and 'reprove'. The verb 'disapprove' was established in English by the early modern period, and the adjectival participial form 'disapproving' developed naturally from it, attested from around the 17th century. Cognates sharing the Latin root appear across Romance languages, such as French 'approuver' and Italian 'approvare'.
Related word forms
How disapproving is actually used
Commonly used attributively before nouns ('a disapproving look', 'disapproving silence') and also predicatively with 'of' ('disapproving of the plan'). The register is neutral — equally at home in formal writing and everyday speech. It describes outward expression more often than inner feeling alone; for the internal attitude, the noun 'disapproval' is usually preferred.
Easily confused with disapproving
'Disapproval' is the noun referring to the feeling or judgment itself, while 'disapproving' is the adjective describing someone who expresses it.
'Deprecating' suggests mild self-criticism or modest dismissal (often in 'self-deprecating'), whereas 'disapproving' conveys open judgment of something considered wrong.