objectionable
Americanadjective
-
causing or tending to cause an objection, disapproval, or protest.
-
offending good taste, manners, etiquette, propriety, etc.; offensive.
objectionable behavior.
- Synonyms:
- odious, vile, offensive, unacceptable
adjective
Other Word Forms
- objectionability noun
- objectionableness noun
- objectionably adverb
- superobjectionable adjective
- superobjectionably adverb
- unobjectionable adjective
Etymology
Origin of objectionable
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."
Vocabulary lists containing objectionable
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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.
They must obey laws, but beyond that, social media companies can filter content as they like, and anything objectionable is the responsibility of whomever posted it.
From Barron's • Mar. 25, 2026
Sure, we also got Brandi Carlile singing “America the Beautiful” and Charlie Puth, one of the least objectionable people in showbiz, performing the National Anthem.
From Salon • Feb. 9, 2026
When AI systems train on content from the Chinese internet, it is already scrubbed as part of China’s so-called Great Firewall, the system Beijing set up years ago to block online content it finds objectionable.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025
For instance, it's unclear what specifically Robinson found objectionable about Kirk.
From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025
They were engaged in “loud talking and objectionable deportment...in public places.”
From "A Few Red Drops: The Chicago Race Riot of 1919" by Claire Hartfield
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.