What are some opposite words for positive?

Antonyms for positive
ˈpɒz ɪ tɪvpos·i·tive

This page is about all possible antonyms and opposite words for the term positive.

Wiktionary0.0 / 0 votes

  1. positiveadjective

    Synonyms:
    certain, wis, sure

  2. positiveadjective

    Antonyms:
    negative

  3. positiveadjective

    Antonyms:
    nonpositive

  4. positiveadjective

    Antonyms:
    unsure, uncertain

English Synonyms and Antonyms0.0 / 0 votes

  1. positive

    In the strict sense, absolute, free from all limitation or control, and supreme, superior to all, can not properly be said of any being except the divine. Both words are used, however, in a modified sense, of human authorities; absolute then signifying free from limitation by other authority, and supreme exalted over all other; as, an absolute monarch, the supreme court. Absolute, in this use, does not necessarily carry any unfavorable sense, but as absolute power in human hands is always abused, the unfavorable meaning predominates. Autocratic power knows no limits outside the ruler's self; arbitrary power, none outside the ruler's will or judgment, arbitrary carrying the implication of wilfulness and capriciousness. Despotic is commonly applied to a masterful or severe use of power, which is expressed more decidedly by tyrannical. Arbitrary may be used in a good sense; as, the pronunciation of proper names is arbitrary; but the bad sense is the prevailing one; as, an arbitrary proceeding. Irresponsible power is not necessarily bad, but eminently dangerous; an executor or trustee should not be irresponsible; an irresponsible ruler is likely to be tyrannical. A perfect ruler might be irresponsible and not tyrannical. Authoritative is used always in a good sense, implying the right to claim authority; imperative, peremptory, and positive are used ordinarily in the good sense; as, an authoritative definition; an imperative demand; a peremptory command; positive instructions; imperious signifies assuming and determined to command, rigorously requiring obedience. An imperious demand or requirement may have in it nothing offensive; it is simply one that resolutely insists upon compliance, and will not brook refusal; an arrogant demand is offensive by its tone of superiority, an arbitrary demand by its unreasonableness; an imperious disposition is liable to become arbitrary and arrogant. A person of an independent spirit is inclined to resent an imperious manner in any one, especially in one whose superiority is not clearly recognized. Commanding is always used in a good sense; as, a commanding appearance; a commanding eminence. Compare DOGMATIC; INFINITE; PERFECT.

    Antonyms:
    accountable, complaisant, compliant, conditional, constitutional, contingent, docile, ductile, gentle, humble, lenient, limited, lowly, meek, mild, responsible, submissive, yielding

    Synonyms:
    absolute, arbitrary, arrogant, authoritative, autocratic, coercive, commanding, compulsive, compulsory, controlling, despotic, dictatorial, dogmatic, domineering, exacting, haughty, imperative, imperious, irresponsible, lordly, overbearing, peremptory, supreme, tyrannical, unconditional, unequivocal

Matched Categories

Princeton's WordNet4.0 / 1 vote

  1. positive, positive degreenoun

    the primary form of an adjective or adverb; denotes a quality without qualification, comparison, or relation to increase or diminution

    Antonyms:
    neutralised, diffident, Gram-negative, counter, incertain, negative, unsure, neutral, viewless, uncharged, timid, uncertain, minus, deniable, antagonistic, disconfirming, shy, informal, perverse, neutralized, disadvantageous

    Synonyms:
    positive degree

  2. positiveadjective

    a film showing a photographic image whose tones correspond to those of the original subject

    Antonyms:
    perverse, informal, disadvantageous, uncertain, viewless, timid, minus, neutral, unsure, incertain, disconfirming, Gram-negative, negative, antagonistic, neutralized, diffident, neutralised, deniable, shy, counter, uncharged

    Synonyms:
    positive degree

  3. positiveadjective

    characterized by or displaying affirmation or acceptance or certainty etc.

    "a positive attitude"; "the reviews were all positive"; "a positive benefit"; "a positive demand"

    Antonyms:
    neutralized, Gram-negative, uncertain, neutral, minus, uncharged, counter, incertain, disconfirming, neutralised, unsure, negative, disadvantageous, diffident, perverse, antagonistic, deniable, timid, informal, shy, viewless

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, incontrovertible, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), positivistic

  4. convinced(p), positive(p), confident(p)adjective

    persuaded of; very sure

    "were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join"; "I am positive he is lying"; "was confident he would win"

    Antonyms:
    incertain, viewless, minus, neutralized, perverse, neutral, uncharged, negative, unsure, Gram-negative, antagonistic, diffident, disconfirming, uncertain, timid, shy, deniable, informal, counter, neutralised, disadvantageous

  5. plus, positiveadjective

    involving advantage or good

    "a plus (or positive) factor"

    Antonyms:
    neutralised, negative, unsure, minus, counter, deniable, disconfirming, shy, neutral, disadvantageous, neutralized, uncertain, diffident, viewless, antagonistic, uncharged, Gram-negative, incertain, timid, informal, perverse

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), positivistic, plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), incontrovertible

  6. positive, confirmingadjective

    indicating existence or presence of a suspected condition or pathogen

    "a positive pregnancy test"

    Antonyms:
    Gram-negative, perverse, uncertain, uncharged, neutralized, incertain, counter, disadvantageous, unsure, negative, neutralised, deniable, diffident, neutral, antagonistic, timid, informal, shy, minus, viewless, disconfirming

    Synonyms:
    irrefutable, confirming, confident(p), positively charged, substantiative, positive(p), verifying, confirmatory, electropositive, collateral, incontrovertible, confirmative, validating, substantiating, positivistic, corroborative, plus, convinced(p), validatory, prescribed, positivist, corroboratory, cocksure, overconfident, verificatory

  7. positive, prescribedadjective

    formally laid down or imposed

    "positive laws"

    Antonyms:
    unsure, minus, uncertain, shy, negative, uncharged, counter, neutralized, timid, perverse, incertain, neutralised, Gram-negative, viewless, diffident, disadvantageous, deniable, informal, neutral, disconfirming, antagonistic

    Synonyms:
    irrefutable, decreed, confirming, confident(p), official, positively charged, positive(p), electropositive, incontrovertible, positivistic, ordained, plus, convinced(p), prescribed, appointed, positivist, cocksure, overconfident

  8. incontrovertible, irrefutable, positiveadjective

    impossible to deny or disprove

    "incontrovertible proof of the defendant's innocence"; "proof positive"; "an irrefutable argument"

    Antonyms:
    Gram-negative, counter, deniable, negative, uncertain, shy, unsure, viewless, informal, uncharged, antagonistic, neutral, disconfirming, neutralised, perverse, neutralized, disadvantageous, incertain, minus, timid, diffident

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, demonstrable, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, prescribed, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), positivistic, plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), incontrovertible

  9. positivist, positivistic, positiveadjective

    of or relating to positivism

    "positivist thinkers"; "positivist doctrine"; "positive philosophy"

    Antonyms:
    perverse, neutralized, minus, deniable, informal, incertain, unsure, negative, diffident, uncertain, Gram-negative, viewless, antagonistic, uncharged, neutral, timid, neutralised, disconfirming, disadvantageous, shy, counter

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), incontrovertible, plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), positivistic

  10. positiveadjective

    reckoned, situated or tending in the direction which naturally or arbitrarily is taken to indicate increase or progress or onward motion

    "positive increase in graduating students"

    Antonyms:
    neutral, negative, neutralised, antagonistic, deniable, uncertain, minus, uncharged, informal, timid, counter, incertain, disconfirming, shy, unsure, Gram-negative, viewless, neutralized, perverse, diffident, disadvantageous

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, incontrovertible, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), positivistic

  11. positiveadjective

    greater than zero

    "positive numbers"

    Antonyms:
    antagonistic, perverse, disconfirming, disadvantageous, counter, Gram-negative, minus, incertain, unsure, negative, neutralized, deniable, shy, uncertain, viewless, neutral, informal, uncharged, neutralised, diffident, timid

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, incontrovertible, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), positivistic

  12. positive, electropositive, positively chargedadjective

    having a positive charge

    "protons are positive"

    Antonyms:
    unsure, incertain, counter, shy, viewless, deniable, diffident, uncharged, uncertain, neutralized, informal, negative, neutralised, Gram-negative, perverse, antagonistic, disconfirming, minus, disadvantageous, neutral, timid

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, incontrovertible, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), positivistic

  13. cocksure, overconfident, positiveadjective

    marked by excessive confidence

    "an arrogant and cocksure materialist"; "so overconfident and impudent as to speak to the queen"; "the less he knows the more positive he gets"

    Antonyms:
    informal, uncharged, shy, neutralised, perverse, neutral, incertain, uncertain, minus, disadvantageous, unsure, neutralized, antagonistic, negative, deniable, timid, viewless, diffident, counter, disconfirming, Gram-negative

    Synonyms:
    cocksure, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), positivistic, plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), incontrovertible

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated Words0.0 / 0 votes

  1. positiveadjective

    Synonyms:
    definite, precise, unequivocal, explicit, catagorical, unmistakable, confident, certain, sure, veritable, actual, absolute, indisputable, peremptory, dogmatic

Editors Contribution0.0 / 0 votes

  1. negative

    Submitted by anonymous on October 6, 2019  

How to use positive in a sentence?

  1. Markus Huber:

    If this situation where a risk-off approach by investors is favoured drags on, markets are running the risk that the recent positive sentiment derived from the QE announcement will fade more and more into the background.

  2. Buddy Fenster:

    I'm trying to be strong and positive — and It's minute by minute, running on fumes, keeping my mind on the positive and not letting my mind going to where it could go, we've always had a sense of danger when he went there — yes, a sense of danger and awareness — but trust.

  3. Boris JohnsonMeanwhile:

    Provided the current encouraging trends in the data continue, it is my expectation that we will be able to end the last domestic restrictions -- including the legal requirement to self-isolate if you test positive -- a full month early.

  4. Hugh Jackman:

    It’s 2023 and I really, really wanted to send out a positive message at the beginning of the year, but recent events have made that impossible.

  5. Rick Meckler:

    To some extent, a drop in oil prices of course is positive, but there comes a point at which people begin to be concerned whether the drop is too much, too fast and can there be unintended consequences of it.

How to pronounce positive?

How to say positive in sign language?

Words popularity by usage frequency

rankingword
#751limited
#1237responsible
#1467positive
#2277counter
#2605negative
#2927relative
#3780dependent
#4904moral
#5870constitutional
#5908neutral
#6670implied
#7210informal
#7518indirect
#7995compliant
#7996minus
#8075gentle
#8164mild
#8529occasional
#9933conditional
#11163shy
#11666uncertain
#12155humble
#12571accountable
#13230unreal
#13349unsure
#13558contingent
#13890suspicious
#15385questionable
#15937imaginary
#18856yielding
#20066doubtful
#23071dubious
#27219fictitious
#29257submissive
#29487meek
#31554perverse
#33672timid
#37657lowly
#49221antagonistic
#49824ductile
#54137lenient
#60973neutralized
#66707docile
#90817insubstantial
#96594disadvantageous
#120248uncharged
#165749neutralised
#165988diffident
#249010nonpositive
#268748deniable
#293856complaisant

Translation

Find a translation for this antonym in other languages:

Select another language:

  • - Select -
  • 简体中文 (Chinese - Simplified)
  • 繁體中文 (Chinese - Traditional)
  • Español (Spanish)
  • Esperanto (Esperanto)
  • 日本語 (Japanese)
  • Português (Portuguese)
  • Deutsch (German)
  • العربية (Arabic)
  • Français (French)
  • Русский (Russian)
  • ಕನ್ನಡ (Kannada)
  • 한국어 (Korean)
  • עברית (Hebrew)
  • Gaeilge (Irish)
  • Українська (Ukrainian)
  • اردو (Urdu)
  • Magyar (Hungarian)
  • मानक हिन्दी (Hindi)
  • Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Italiano (Italian)
  • தமிழ் (Tamil)
  • Türkçe (Turkish)
  • తెలుగు (Telugu)
  • ภาษาไทย (Thai)
  • Tiếng Việt (Vietnamese)
  • Čeština (Czech)
  • Polski (Polish)
  • Bahasa Indonesia (Indonesian)
  • Românește (Romanian)
  • Nederlands (Dutch)
  • Ελληνικά (Greek)
  • Latinum (Latin)
  • Svenska (Swedish)
  • Dansk (Danish)
  • Suomi (Finnish)
  • فارسی (Persian)
  • ייִדיש (Yiddish)
  • հայերեն (Armenian)
  • Norsk (Norwegian)
  • English (English)

Discuss these positive antonyms with the community:

0 Comments

    Citation

    Use the citation below to add these synonyms to your bibliography:

    Style:MLAChicagoAPA

    "positive." Synonyms.com. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 28 Mar. 2024. <https://www.synonyms.com/antonyms/positive>.

    Are we missing a good antonym for positive?

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Chrome

    Get instant synonyms for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Free, no signup required:

    Add to Firefox

    Get instant synonyms for any word that hits you anywhere on the web!

    Browse Synonyms.com

    Quiz

    Are you a human thesaurus?

    »
    Which of the following words is not a synonym of the others?
    A refuse
    B decline
    C reject
    D admit

    Nearby & related entries:

    Alternative searches for positive: