Practice Obnoxious with Flashcards, Spelling and Quizzes

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Annoyance and Irritation

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Conduct and Character

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Gloom and Unpleasantness

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Repugnance and Revulsion

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Rudeness and Unrefined

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obnoxious

Obnoxious (adjective) – Meaning, Examples & Etymology

adjective

IPA:

/əbˈnɒkʃəs/

What does obnoxious mean?

Highly unpleasant, offensive, or objectionable, typically due to someone's behavior, attitude, or actions.
"The obnoxious behavior of the customer caused other patrons to leave the restaurant."

Detailed Meaning of Obnoxious

When a person or situation is described as obnoxious, it implies that they are causing annoyance, irritation, or discomfort to others, and their behavior is typically considered rude, offensive, or inconsiderate. This term conveys a sense of strong disapproval and a lack of tolerance for the individual or circumstance in question. For example, an obnoxious person may engage in disruptive or disrespectful behavior, while an obnoxious odor could be an offensive and overpowering smell. "Obnoxious" underscores the idea of something or someone being irritating or offensive to the point of being highly disagreeable or offensive.

Example Sentences for Obnoxious

1. The obnoxious smell coming from the garbage bin made me gag.
2. He had an obnoxious habit of interrupting people mid-conversation.
3. The obnoxious customer berated the waiter for a minor mistake.
4. Her obnoxious behavior at the party caused everyone to avoid her.
5. The obnoxious noise of the jackhammer disturbed the entire neighborhood.
6. I couldn't stand his obnoxious laugh that echoed through the room.

Origin and Etymology of Obnoxious

The adjective 'obnoxious' has its etymological roots in the Latin word 'obnoxius,' which meant 'subject to harm' or 'exposed to harm.' It is formed from 'ob,' meaning 'toward,' and 'noxius,' meaning 'harmful' or 'noxious.' Over time, the meaning of 'obnoxious' shifted to describe something that is highly unpleasant, offensive, or objectionable, often due to someone's behavior, attitude, or actions. This transformation reflects how something that was originally associated with vulnerability to harm came to be associated with behaviors and qualities that are harmful or offensive to others, resulting in the modern usage of 'obnoxious' to describe such distasteful or offensive attributes.

Quiz Question - Test Your Understanding

Find the correct meaning of the adjective obnoxious:

offensive

agreeable

pleasant

likable

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Correct!

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More Usage Examples of Obnoxious

1. The obnoxious graffiti defaced the beautiful mural on the wall.
2. She wore an obnoxious neon-colored outfit that drew attention to herself.
3. The obnoxious bully taunted his classmates relentlessly.
4. The obnoxious advertisement played on a loop, driving everyone crazy.
5. His obnoxious comments during the meeting offended many people.
6. The obnoxious telemarketer wouldn't stop calling despite being asked politely.
7. The obnoxious teenager blared loud music from his car.
8. I found his obnoxious sense of entitlement extremely off-putting.
9. Her obnoxious jokes were often hurtful and crossed the line.
10. The obnoxious cat scratched and hissed at anyone who came near it.
11. His obnoxious snoring kept the entire household awake at night.
12. The obnoxious politician made false promises to win votes.
13. The obnoxious odor of the chemicals in the lab made me dizzy.
14. The obnoxious sibling constantly picked fights with their brothers and sisters.