obnoxious
Americanadjective
-
highly objectionable or offensive; odious.
obnoxious behavior.
- Antonyms:
- delightful
-
annoying or objectionable due to being a show-off or attracting undue attention to oneself.
an obnoxious little brat.
-
Archaic. exposed or liable to harm, evil, or anything objectionable.
-
Obsolete. liable to punishment or censure; reprehensible.
adjective
-
extremely unpleasant
-
obsolete exposed to harm, injury, etc
Synonym Usage
See hateful.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of obnoxious
First recorded in 1575–85; from Latin obnoxiōsus “harmful,” equivalent to ob- “to, toward, against,” + noxiōsus “harmful”; see ob-, noxious
Explanation
If something is obnoxious, it's annoying and unpleasant. Generally, people like to avoid obnoxious folks. If something is driving you absolutely crazy, it's probably obnoxious. Yelling and stomping your feet is obnoxious. Poking someone repeatedly is obnoxious. Driving like a maniac is obnoxious. If the teacher comes in and finds students jumping up and down and throwing books, she might say, "Stop being so obnoxious!" Any time someone is obnoxious, someone else probably wants them to stop it.
Vocabulary lists containing obnoxious
Negative Words to Describe a Person
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Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
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Freak the Mighty
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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.
What to know: Ferrell, a master of playing obnoxious, egotistical men who are somehow still lovable, does that once again in this comedy.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 24, 2026
The more people dislike him, the more loudly announces he’s actually a deeply moral person, which is an obnoxious and off-putting lie that alienates people more.
From Salon • Jun. 15, 2026
For many, there’s a distinction between genuine audience reactions and obnoxious laughter.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 8, 2026
At his best, Pratt came off as a boisterous bro with enough charm to call himself “humble” without coming off as obnoxious.
From Los Angeles Times • May 6, 2026
If your kid is annoying or obnoxious, we have the right to refuse your business.
From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller
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.
