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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

Derived 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."

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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.

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

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

But now there’s a backlash on campuses over “career funneling”—schools only allowing interviews on campus for what students consider objectionable jobs, like finance and consulting.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 23, 2025

For instance, it's unclear what specifically Robinson found objectionable about Kirk.

From BBC • Sep. 19, 2025

Instead Steve Eisman found nothing even faintly objectionable about Greg Lippmann.

From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis

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