off-putting

[awf-poot-ing, of-]

adjective

1. provoking uneasiness, dislike, annoyance, or repugnance; disturbing or disagreeable.

off-putting

adjective

1. informal,  disconcerting or disturbing

Other Word Forms

• off-puttingly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of off-putting¹

1820–30; off + putting, after verb phrase put off

Example Sentences

There was a confessional vibe at times to the conversation, borne of a fear the left can exude a piety and loftiness off-putting to many.

Read more on BBC

This year’s Emmys employed a novel, off-putting and deeply annoying way of trying to keep acceptance speeches short.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

“I am a loyal person,” Harris writes, which is not only self-justifying but has the slightly off-putting whiff of someone declaring, by golly, I’m just too honest.

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"Sometimes people presume that they haven't served, or they are the wife of someone who has served, and that can be off-putting."

Read more on BBC

I worried it was off-putting but, within seconds, people loved it.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abhorrent 
• creepy 
• distasteful 
• hateful 
• hideous 
• nasty 
• objectionable 
• odious 
• revolting 
• ugly 
• unpleasant 
• vile