negative

Definition

  • noun: something that is harmful or bad
  • noun: a reply that indicates the withholding of assent
  • verb: to refuse assent to
  • adjective: harmful or bad
  • adjective: marked by denial, prohibition, or refusal
  • synonyms: cassandra-like, cassandran, cassandrian

Examples

  • The senator is running a 'negative' campaign. [=a campaign that criticizes the other candidate instead of saying what good things the senator wants to do]

  • There is a high rate of 'false negatives' for this test. [=this test often incorrectly indicates that something is not present when it really is]

  • Since the positives outweigh the 'negatives', I'm going to take the job. [=there are more good things about the job than bad things]

Movie clips

Movie quotes

  • (..) My chair, it won't move. Here's your problem. Your battery cable has come undone. Let me help. Let's see. The positive to the negative. The negative to the positive. There. All right, you are ready to go. All clear, keep it moving. As chief inspector of the Police Nationale... (..)
    2006 The Pink Panther