Word
untoward
Phoneticsun·to·ward
US/əntəˈwɔɹd/
UK/ʌntʊwˈɔːd/
Definition
adj. unpleasant, unexpected, or dangerous. You use this to describe something that goes wrong in a way you did not plan for.
adj. unpleasant, unexpected, or dangerous in nature. Often used in formal or technical contexts to describe adverse events or outcomes.
Examples
“The company is prepared for any untoward event.”
“The safety protocol is designed to prevent any untoward incidents during the chemical experiment.”
“While the initial results were promising, the researchers remained vigilant for any untoward side effects that might emerge during the extended observation period.”
Examples
simple
“The company is prepared for any untoward event.”
contextual
“The safety protocol is designed to prevent any untoward incidents during the chemical experiment.”
complex
“While the initial results were promising, the researchers remained vigilant for any untoward side effects that might emerge during the extended observation period.”
Real-World Examples
“I told my husband that the last time I went past, I slowed down and did a drive-by, so they’d know their untoward behaviour had been rumbled.” Etymology
From un- + toward (“to + -ward”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/untoward