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Synonyms

objectionable

American  
[uhb-jek-shuh-nuh-buhl] / əbˈdʒɛk ʃə nə bəl /

adjective

  1. causing or tending to cause an objection, disapproval, or protest.

  2. offending good taste, manners, etiquette, propriety, etc.; offensive.

    objectionable behavior.

    Synonyms:
    odious, vile, offensive, unacceptable

objectionable British  
/ əbˈdʒɛkʃənəbəl /

adjective

  1. unpleasant, offensive, or repugnant

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms


Etymology

Origin of objectionable

First recorded in 1775–85; objection + -able


Explanation

Objectionable things are unwelcome or disliked. Your objectionable roommate might leave his dirty dishes everywhere, watch TV with the volume turned all the way up, and keep bringing home stray kittens. If you've got a problem with someone's behavior, you can describe it as objectionable. Things like hate speech, bad jokes, and terrible music are all objectionable — obnoxious or even deplorable. In other words, you object to these things. The Latin root of object and objectionable is obiectare, "to oppose" or "to set against," literally meaning "to throw or put against."

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

Vocabulary lists containing objectionable

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

See Examples For:

Hargitay, largely known for apprehending “especially heinous” offenders for the last 27 years, is just about the farthest away from an objectionable choice as you can get.

From Salon ● Sep. 8, 2026

Swalwell also had high favorability ratings, and when he dropped out, Becerra was “seen as the least objectionable of the candidates that were remaining,” Mitchell said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 1, 2026

Bhamre's complaint, registered on 18 December, accuses Patil of publishing "objectionable content" against a top BJP leader on Facebook.

From BBC ● Feb. 20, 2026

However, the centralisation of power could mean "advice good for China or the PLA but deemed objectionable to Xi are less likely to be offered", SOAS's Tsang said.

From Barron's ● Jan. 29, 2026

He roared out songs at the top of his voice, some of them highly objectionable songs, and behaved himself in a way that was nothing less than indecent at the time of a funeral.

From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton

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