Word family noun approval ≠ disapproval adjective approving ≠ disapproving approved verb approve ≠ disapprove adverb approvingly ≠ disapprovingly
From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishdisapprovedis‧ap‧prove /ˌdɪsəˈpruːv/ ●●○ verb 1 DISAPPROVE[intransitive] to think that someone or their behaviour, ideas etc are bad or wrong OPP approve I knew my parents would disapprove, but I went anyway.disapprove of I disapprove of diets; it’s better to eat sensibly. Her family strongly disapproved of her behaviour.RegisterIn everyday English, people often say they don’t agree with an idea rather than disapprove of it: I don’t agree with capital punishment.2 [transitive] formal to not agree to something that has been suggested OPP approve The board of directors disapproved the sale.→ See Verb tableExamples from the Corpus
disapprove• I could tell from my mother's face that she disapproved.• Emma was accustomed to these tribulations of child-rearing, but never had she seen her husband Rupert so short-tempered and disapproving.• I strongly disapprove of any form of gambling.• And it was obvious that they had disapproved of her and given up on her a long time before Bill had.• Most fundamentalist churches disapprove of homosexuals, and many leaders of the religious right have aggressively campaigned against gay rights.• My friends disapprove of me smoking.• A lot of church leaders disapproved of the book when it was first published.• That, she knew full well, she could do nothing about, although she disapproved of the whole set-up.• You do not even disapprove, very much, of the way I came to bed with you.strongly disapproved• But the official church hierarchy strongly disapproved.• Bob strongly disapproved of drinking and driving.• But he strongly disapproved of the proselytizing that went on under the cloak of humanitarianism.• The Under-Secretary strongly disapproved of tobacco and alcohol. 