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Obnoxious: meaning, definitions and examples

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obnoxious

 

[əbˈnɑːkʃəs ]

Definitions

Context #1 | Adjective

behavior

Extremely unpleasant or offensive; annoying or objectionable.

Synonyms

disgusting, irritating, offensive, repulsive, vulgar.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
obnoxious

Used to describe someone or something that is extremely unpleasant, often in a loud or rude way.

  • His obnoxious behavior at the party made everyone uncomfortable
  • The obnoxious noise from the construction site made it hard to concentrate
offensive

Refers to something that causes someone to feel hurt, upset, or insulted, often because of words or actions that are inappropriate.

  • Her remarks about his appearance were very offensive
  • The offensive joke was not appreciated by anyone in the room
disgusting

Refers to something that causes a strong feeling of dislike or even nausea.

  • The smell of the rotten food was absolutely disgusting
  • Seeing the state of the public restroom was a disgusting experience
repulsive

Describes something that is so unpleasant it causes a strong feeling of disgust.

  • The repulsive sight of the moldy bread made me lose my appetite
  • The way he treated his dog was repulsive
vulgar

Used to describe something that is lacking in good taste, often due to being rude or offensive.

  • His jokes were vulgar and inappropriate for the dinner party
  • The movie was criticized for its vulgar language
irritating

Used when something or someone causes slight anger or annoyance over time.

  • His constant humming was really irritating
  • The buzzing of the mosquito was extremely irritating

Examples of usage

  • He had an obnoxious habit of interrupting people.
  • She found his arrogance obnoxious.
  • Don't be so obnoxious, nobody likes that behavior.
  • The obnoxious smell filled the room.
  • I can't stand his obnoxious attitude.
Context #2 | Adjective

person

Highly objectionable or offensive.

Synonyms

disagreeable, disrespectful, repugnant, unpleasant, vulgar.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
obnoxious

Used to describe someone or something that is extremely annoying and unpleasant, often intentionally. Typically has a strong negative connotation.

  • His obnoxious behavior ruined the event for everyone.
  • The obnoxious smell made it hard to stay in the room.
disagreeable

Refers to someone or something that is unpleasant or not easy to get along with. It can be used in both mild and strong negative situations.

  • The weather was disagreeable, with constant rain and wind.
  • She found him to be a very disagreeable person.
repugnant

Used to describe something that is extremely distasteful or unacceptable. It's a strong negative term, often used for things that provoke a strong sense of disgust.

  • The thought of cheating was repugnant to him.
  • She found his comments about other cultures absolutely repugnant.
unpleasant

Generally means not giving pleasure or satisfaction; can be used for milder negative feelings or experiences.

  • He had an unpleasant experience at the dentist.
  • The food was unpleasant, but we ate it anyway.
vulgar

Describes something that is crude, indecent or lacking sophistication. Often used to talk about speech or behavior that is considered inappropriate or offensive.

  • The movie was criticized for its vulgar language.
  • He made a vulgar joke that offended everyone at the table.
disrespectful

Describes someone showing a lack of respect or courtesy, typically towards another person or authority. It's often used in contexts involving social or hierarchical interactions.

  • The student was disrespectful towards his teacher.
  • Her disrespectful comments upset a lot of people.

Examples of usage

  • He can be really obnoxious when he's in a bad mood.
  • She made an obnoxious comment about his appearance.
  • The obnoxious man continued to make rude remarks.
  • His obnoxious behavior caused everyone to avoid him.
  • Don't be so obnoxious, it's not necessary.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

  • The word 'obnoxious' comes from Latin roots: 'obnoxius,' meaning 'harmful' or 'exposed to danger.'
  • Original use of the word in English dates back to the early 17th century, primarily describing someone's exposure to criticism or harm.
  • The modern sense of the word evolved through the 19th century to emphasize annoyance rather than danger.

Pop Culture

  • In popular media, obnoxious characters often serve as comic relief, exaggerating traits for humor, like loud neighbors in sitcoms.
  • The term is frequently used in music and lyrics to describe people whose behavior disrupts fun or creates tension in social situations.
  • Reality TV often features obnoxious personalities whose extreme behavior captivates viewers and drives drama.

Psychology

  • Research indicates that obnoxious behavior can stem from a desire for attention or asserting dominance in social settings.
  • Being around obnoxious individuals may lead to increased stress levels and negative moods in observers.
  • People often misunderstand obnoxious behavior as confidence, though it may hide insecurities.

Social Dynamics

  • Obnoxious behavior can impact social groups, causing rifts or leading to a lack of cooperation among members.
  • The phenomenon of 'obnoxiousness' can sometimes be culturally dependent, where actions perceived as annoying in one culture may be acceptable in another.
  • Conflict resolution often requires addressing obnoxious behaviors to restore harmony in friendships and workplaces.

Language and Usage

  • Commonly used in everyday conversations, the term has become a catch-all for a variety of annoying actions, from loud talking to rude comments.
  • Synonyms include offensive, irritating, and bothersome, each carrying a slightly different nuance of annoyance.
  • The fictional character Cartman from 'South Park' is often cited as a quintessential example of an obnoxious person in entertainment.

Translations

Translations of the word "obnoxious" in other languages:

🇵🇹 desagradável

🇮🇳 अप्रिय

🇩🇪 unangenehm

🇮🇩 menjengkelkan

🇺🇦 неприємний

🇵🇱 nieprzyjemny

🇯🇵 不快

🇫🇷 désagréable

🇪🇸 desagradable

🇹🇷 rahatsız edici

🇰🇷 불쾌한

🇸🇦 مزعج

🇨🇿 nepříjemný

🇸🇰 nepríjemný

🇨🇳 讨厌的

🇸🇮 neprijeten

🇮🇸 óþægilegur

🇰🇿 жағымсыз

🇬🇪 უსიამოვნო

🇦🇿 xoşagəlməz

🇲🇽 desagradable

Word Frequency Rank

At position #13,858, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.