All 5 Uses

negative
in
The Glass Castle
(Edited)

Fussing over children who cry only encourages them, she told us. That's positive reinforcement for negative behavior.
p. 28.3 *

negative = bad or harmful
"You're always so negative," she said.
p. 187.9

negative = pessimistic (focusing on bad things)
"I'm not being negative," I said. "I'm trying to be realistic."
p. 187.9 *
But the positive thoughts would give way to negative thoughts, and the negative thoughts seemed to swoop into her mind the way a big flock of black crows takes over the landscape, sitting thick in the trees and on the fence rails and lawns, staring at you in ominous silence.
p. 207.5
But the positive thoughts would give way to negative thoughts, and the negative thoughts seemed to swoop into her mind the way a big flock of black crows takes over the landscape, sitting thick in the trees and on the fence rails and lawns, staring at you in ominous silence.
p. 207.5

Definitions:

(1) (negative as in: had a negative effect)
bad or harmful
(2) (negative as in: negative feedback from customers)
to express criticism or disagreement, or (especially when talking over a radio or in a military setting) to say "no"
(3) (negative as in: a negative attitude)
pessimistic (emphasizing bad things) or disagreeable
(4) (negative as in: The test came back negative.)
did not find a condition or substance to be present
(5) (negative as in: a negative number)
less than zero
(6) (meaning too rare to warrant focus)
See a comprehensive dictionary for less common meanings of negative including some in the fields of electricity, physics, chemistry, medicine, photography, and grammar. Note that most non-technical senses of negative indicate that something is bad or lacking.