obnoxious

[ uhb-nok-shuhs ]

adjective

1. highly objectionable or offensive; odious:

   obnoxious behavior.

   Antonyms: delightful

2. annoying or objectionable due to being a show-off or attracting undue attention to oneself:

   an obnoxious little brat.

3. Archaic. exposed or liable to harm, evil, or anything objectionable.
4. Obsolete. liable to punishment or censure; reprehensible.

obnoxious

/ əbˈnɒkʃəs /

adjective

1. extremely unpleasant
2. obsolete.
   exposed to harm, injury, etc

Derived Forms

• obˈnoxiously, adverb
• obˈnoxiousness, noun

Other Words From

• ob·noxious·ly adverb
• ob·noxious·ness noun
• unob·noxi·ous adjective
• unob·noxi·ous·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of obnoxious¹

First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin obnoxiōsus “harmful,” equivalent to ob- “to, toward, against,” + noxiōsus “harmful”; ob-, noxious

Word History and Origins

Origin of obnoxious¹

C16: from Latin obnoxius, from ob- to + noxa injury, from nocēre to harm

Synonym Study

See hateful.

Example Sentences

“I was a little obnoxious for the first few years,” Hoff said of her constant questioning and search for a critical flaw.

From Los Angeles Times

Eagle added that as somewhat of a moderate who didn’t vote for Trump or Hillary Clinton in 2016 but went with Trump four years later, “I find his personal qualities to be obnoxious.”

From Los Angeles Times

“Unruly, obnoxious people can ruin everything. The worst experience ever,” the 60-year-old New Orleans native tweeted.

From Los Angeles Times

It might appear, Mike says, that he’s just doing obnoxious things for views, but he says he takes safety very seriously.

From BBC

One more loss, and the Dodgers have once again suffered the worst of fates against the worst of opponents, once again crushed by an obnoxious little brother that is everything they’re not.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abhorrent
• annoying
• disgusting
• hateful
• loathsome
• nasty
• objectionable
• reprehensible
• rotten
• unpleasant