affirmative vs negative

Definitions

adjective

1. affirming or giving assent
2. expecting the best
3. expressing or manifesting praise or approval

noun

1. a reply of affirmation

Examples

She hoped he would have answered in the affirmative.

We never answer questions about special forces, but do not take that as an answer indicating an affirmative.

Rebecca was too embarrassed to reply, but he took her silence as an affirmative.

View all examples

Definitions

adjective

1. designed or tending to discredit, especially without positive or helpful suggestions
2. not indicating the presence of microorganisms or disease or a specific condition
3. characterized by or displaying negation or denial or opposition or resistance; having no positive features
4. reckoned in a direction opposite to that regarded as positive
5. having the quality of something harmful or unpleasant

verb

1. vote against; refuse to endorse; refuse to assent

noun

1. a piece of photographic film showing an image with light and shade or colors reversed
2. a reply of denial

Examples

If all this seems a little negative, let me assure you I now feel an almost pathological fondness for the place.

A lot of the foods that we connect with African-Americans, whether totemically, whether positively or negatively, are indeed and in fact foods from the continent.

There was a lot of negative publicity surrounding the film.

View all examples