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Meaning & use

obnoxious

adjective·Academicdisapproving

Last updated

UK/əbˈnɒkʃəs/
US/əbˈnɑːkʃəs/
Usage warning: this word is disapproving. It shows a negative opinion, so take care with who and what you use it about.

Meanings

  1. adjectivecomparabledisapproving

    Very unpleasant and offensive in manner, especially in a loud, rude, or arrogant way.

    Grammar: Describes people or behavior: an obnoxious guest.

    Patterns

    • an obnoxious person
    • be obnoxious to someone

    The obnoxious man at the next table kept shouting at the waiter.

    He was obnoxious to everyone at the party.

    It's obnoxious to talk loudly on the phone in a quiet train car.

  2. adjectivecomparable

    Extremely unpleasant or annoying, as with a smell, noise, or thing.

    Grammar: Applies to things you strongly dislike: an obnoxious odor.

    Patterns

    • an obnoxious smell
    • an obnoxious noise

    An obnoxious smell drifted from the factory.

    The alarm made an obnoxious buzzing noise.

    The neighbor's obnoxious music kept us awake.

Word forms

comparativemore obnoxious
superlativemost obnoxious

Common combinations

obnoxious behavior
His obnoxious behavior got him banned from the club.
obnoxious person
She refused to sit next to the obnoxious person from accounting.
downright obnoxious
Her comments were downright obnoxious.
obnoxious smell
An obnoxious smell filled the fridge.
loud and obnoxious
The crowd was loud and obnoxious.

Synonyms and how they differ

offensive
Offensive stresses causing insult or upset, whereas obnoxious stresses being irritating and rude.
annoying
Annoying is milder and can describe small irritations, while obnoxious is a stronger judgment of someone's character.
insufferable
Insufferable suggests a person is impossible to put up with, and is more formal than obnoxious.
rude
Rude simply means impolite, while obnoxious adds a loud, offensive, hard-to-tolerate quality.

Opposites

pleasantcharmingpolite

Word family

obnoxiously adverb
in an offensively unpleasant way
obnoxiousness noun
the quality of being obnoxious
noxious adjective
harmful or poisonous

Commonly confused: obnoxious or noxious?

obnoxious vs noxious

Noxious means harmful, especially of gases or substances, while obnoxious describes people or behavior that is very unpleasant.

Practice

The tourist was so ___ that the waiter asked him to lower his voice and stop insulting the staff.

Make it your own

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