Looking for negative words starting with R? You’ve landed on the right page, below I’ve put together a list of negative words that start the letter R.
I’ve included some of the more interesting, unusual, and powerful adjectives that have negative implications.
Finding the right words to describe something in the way you want can be very powerful. I hope you find the word(s) you’re looking for, good luck!
Rabid – having or proceeding from an extreme or fanatical support of or belief in something.
Radical – (especially of change or action) relating to or affecting the fundamental nature of something; far-reaching or thorough.
Radicalization – the action or process of causing someone to adopt radical positions on political or social issues.
Rage – violent uncontrollable anger.
Ragged – (of cloth or clothes) old and torn.
Raked – draw together with a rake or similar implement.
Rampage – (especially of a large group of people) move through a place in a violent and uncontrollable manner.
Rampant – (especially of something unwelcome) flourishing or spreading unchecked.
Rankle – (of a comment or fact) cause continuing annoyance or resentment.
Rant – speak or shout at length in an angry, impassioned way.
Rascal – a mischievous or cheeky person, especially a child or man (typically used in an affectionate way).
Rattled – make or cause to make a rapid succession of short, sharp knocking sounds.
Ravage – cause severe and extensive damage to.
Rebellious – showing a desire to resist authority, control, or convention.
Rebuff – reject (someone or something) in an abrupt or ungracious manner.
Recant – say that one no longer holds an opinion or belief, especially one considered heretical.
Recession – a period of temporary economic decline during which trade and industrial activity are reduced, generally identified by a fall in GDP in two successive quarters.
Reckless – heedless of danger or the consequences of one’s actions; rash or impetuous.
Redundancy – the state of being not or no longer needed or useful.
Refused – indicate or show that one is not willing to do something.
Refute – prove (a statement or theory) to be wrong or false; disprove.
Regression – a return to a former or less developed state.
Regretful – feeling or showing regret.
Rejected – dismiss as inadequate, unacceptable, or faulty.
Relentless – unceasingly intense.
Reluctance – unwillingness or disinclination to do something.
Remorseful – filled with remorse; sorry.
Renounce – formally declare one’s abandonment of (a claim, right, or possession).
Repel – drive or force (an attack or attacker) back or away.
Reprehensible – deserving censure or condemnation.
Repression – the action of subduing someone or something by force.
Reprimand – a formal expression of disapproval.
Reproachful – expressing disapproval or disappointment.
Repugnance – intense disgust.
Repulsed – drive back (an attack or attacker) by force.
Resentful – feeling or expressing bitterness or indignation at having been treated unfairly.
Resignation – an act of resigning from a job or office.
Resistance – the refusal to accept or comply with something.
Restlessness – the inability to rest or relax as a result of anxiety or boredom.
Restricted – limited in extent, number, scope, or action.
Resurgent – increasing or reviving after a period of little activity, popularity, or occurrence.
Retaliate – make an attack in return for a similar attack.
Retreat – (of an army) withdraw from enemy forces as a result of their superior power or after a defeat.
Revenge – the action of hurting or harming someone in return for an injury or wrong suffered at their hands.
Revile – criticize in an abusive or angrily insulting manner.
Revolt – take violent action against an established government or ruler; rebel.
Revulsion – a sense of disgust and loathing.
Rhetoric – the art of effective or persuasive speaking or writing, especially the exploitation of figures of speech and other compositional techniques.
Ridicule – the subjection of someone or something to contemptuous and dismissive language or behaviour.
Riled – make (someone) annoyed or irritated.
Rip-off – a fraud or swindle, especially something that is grossly overpriced.
Risky – full of the possibility of danger, failure, or loss.
Rivalry – competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.
Rocky – consisting or full of rock or rocks.
Rogue – a dishonest or unprincipled man.
Rotten – suffering from decay.
Rubbish – waste material; refuse or litter.
Rude – offensively impolite or bad-mannered.
Ruined – (of a building or place) reduced to a state of decay, collapse, or disintegration.
Rambling – (of writing or speech) lengthy and confused or inconsequential.
Rumor – a currently circulating story or report of uncertain or doubtful truth.
Run-down – (of a vehicle) hit a person or animal and knock them to the ground.
Rupture – (especially of a pipe or container, or bodily part such as an organ or membrane) break or burst suddenly.
Rut – a long deep track made by the repeated passage of the wheels of vehicles.
Ruthless – having or showing no pity or compassion for others.
Are there any negative words beginning with the letter R you think should be on this list? Drop me a comment, I’m always open to adding more words – thanks!
If you want to find more negative words starting with a different letter of the alphabet, just click one of the letters below:
| A | B | C | D | E | F | G | H | I |
| J | K | L | M | N | O | P | Q | R |
| S | T | U | V | W | X | Y | Z |
Image credits – Photo by Joshua Hoehne on Unsplash
