ill-disposed

IPA/ˌɪl dɪˈspəʊzd/
IPA/ˌɪl dɪˈspəʊzd/

ill-disposed — adjective

1. having an attitude that makes you unwilling to be helpful, pleasant, or supporti

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

having an attitude that makes you unwilling to be helpful, pleasant, or supportive toward a particular person or group

Example

The committee was ill-disposed toward the new proposal from the start.

pattern: ill-disposed toward + noun phrase

Mira's grandparents seemed ill-disposed to the idea of her studying abroad alone.

Common collocations
  • be ill-disposed toward
  • be ill-disposed to
  • remain ill-disposed
  • clearly ill-disposed
  • openly ill-disposed
Synonyms
  • unfriendly

    less formal and broader; describes a lack of warmth in everyday interactions rather than a deliberate stance

  • unsympathetic

    focuses on lack of emotional support or understanding, not necessarily active opposition

  • antagonistic

    stronger; suggests active opposition or conflict rather than mere unwillingness to help

Antonyms
  • well-disposed

    the direct antonym; feeling friendly or supportive

  • sympathetic

    focuses on being understanding and supportive rather than hostile

Grammar Patterns

be ill-disposed toward/to + someone/something

remain/seem ill-disposed toward/to + someone/something

Usage Note

Often paired with the prepositions 'toward' or 'to' to specify the target of the negative feeling. This word is noticeably more formal than alternatives such as 'unfriendly' or 'not supportive.'

Common Mistakes

She is ill-disposed with her new colleagues.
She is ill-disposed toward her new colleagues.
'ill-disposed' takes 'toward' or 'to', not 'with'.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a negative attitude toward someone, but with important differences in degree and scope. 'Unfriendly' is the mildest — it describes a simple lack of warmth in everyday situations, like a neighbor who never says hello. 'Ill-disposed' adds a layer of unwillingness to help or support; it is more about a person's stance than a passing mood. 'Antagonistic' is stronger, suggesting active opposition or conflict, often in professional or political settings. 'Hostile' is the strongest, implying aggression or open confrontation. For example, a colleague who is ill-disposed toward your idea might simply argue against it, while a hostile colleague would try to undermine it openly.

hostile ↗unfriendly ↗antagonistic ↗unsympathetic ↗

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • ill-disposed toward someone
  • ill-disposed to an idea

Prepositions

Etymology

Old FrenchLatinEnglish

Formed from the adverb 'ill' (meaning 'badly' or 'not') and 'disposed' (meaning 'having a certain inclination'). 'Disposed' came into English from Old French 'disposer' (to arrange), which itself comes from Latin 'disponere' (to set in order). By the 1500s, 'disposed' was commonly used to describe a person's temperament, and 'ill-disposed' arose as a way to say someone was inclined to be unfriendly or hostile.