Link Centre Dictionary

untoward

un·to·ward

UK/ˌʌn.tʊˈwɔːd/ US/ˌʌn.təˈwɔɹd/ uncommon

adjective

1.

not in keeping with accepted standards of what is right or proper in polite society

  • “was buried with indecent haste”
  • “indecorous behavior”
  • “language unbecoming to a lady”
  • “unseemly to use profanity”
  • “moved to curb their untoward ribaldry”
2.

contrary to your interests or welfare

  • “adverse circumstances”
  • “made a place for themselves under the most untoward conditions”

Origin

From un- + toward (“to + -ward”).

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.