Antonyms for Positive
ˈpɒz ɪ tɪvpos·i·tive

WiktionaryRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. positiveadjective

   Synonyms:
   certain, wis, sure

2. positiveadjective

   Antonyms:
   negative

3. positiveadjective

   Antonyms:
   nonpositive

4. positiveadjective

   Antonyms:
   unsure, uncertain

English Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 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

Complete Dictionary of Synonyms and AntonymsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. positive

   Antonyms:
   negative, insubstantial, unreal, fictitious, imaginary, relative, contingent, dependent, conditional, implied, dubious, questionable, moral, uncertain, doubtful, indirect, occasional, suspicious

   Synonyms:
   real, actual, substantial, absolute, independent, unconditional, unequivocal, explicit, fixed, settled, definitive, indisputable, decisive, express, enacted, assured, confident, direct, dogmatic, overbearing, dogmatical

Matched Categories

1. • Adjective
   • Adverb
   • Math

Princeton's WordNetRate these antonyms:4.0 / 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, 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, positive, 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, positive, 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, positive, 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, positive, 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, positive, 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), positive, 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, positive, prescribed, positivist, overconfident, electropositive, positively charged, irrefutable, convinced(p), positivistic, plus, positive(p), confirming, confident(p), incontrovertible

Synonyms, Antonyms & Associated WordsRate these synonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. positiveadjective

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

Editors ContributionRate these antonyms:0.0 / 0 votes

1. negative

   Submitted by anonymous on October 6, 2019  

How to use Positive in a sentence?

1. Sipho P Nkosi:

   Positive thoughts make you a better person.

2. Kayla Jones:

   He was coaching us, he was just really intense all week. You've just to go to respond in a positive way.

3. Jaret Seiberg:

   We are unsurprised the FDIC retained loans as we would expect banks to be cautious on quickly buying loans without liability and loss protections, more broadly, we see it as positive for consumer confidence for the branches to be opening Monday as NYCB branches.

4. Jim Edmonds:

   I appreciate everyone who has sent well wishes and wished me the best, i did test positive for pneumonia and I did get a test back positive for the virus. I am completely symptom-free now and doing really well, so I must have had it for a while before I got tested.

5. Craig Allen:

   It's time to roll that thing out, it would be a positive, and would make it easier for the U.S. side to sign a deal.

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