off-putting

adjective

off-put·​ting ˈȯf-ˌpu̇-tiŋ How to pronounce off-putting (audio)
: that puts one off : repellent, disconcerting
an off-putting attitude
off-puttingly adverb

Examples of off-putting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Sure, some fans were jolted by Man of Steel’s off-putting climax, when Superman snaps Zod’s neck, committing murder for the first time in the character’s cinematic history. Borys Kit, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Nov. 2023 There are many off-putting elements in Rife’s routines, including the multiple references to his own talents as an entertainer. Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Nov. 2023 The comedian's newest show, The Curse, is weird and off-putting, yet intensely compelling. Shirley Li, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2023 This would all be seriously off-putting coming from a cold, soulless machine, but in the form of a buttery waffle drizzled with syrup, EggoVac is fairly disarming. Li Goldstein, Bon Appétit, 10 Nov. 2023 And if similarly off-putting vibes permeate the leading men in all of these projects, the artistic results are wildly varied. Peter Marks, Washington Post, 3 Nov. 2023 While showing enough restraint to only take three bites may seem off-putting, there is a method to the concept. Kristine Thomason, Health, 2 Nov. 2023 But often, underneath Merry Me’s fizz, there’s an off-putting tartness. Sara Holdren, Vulture, 31 Oct. 2023 Instead of the ingredient’s trademark pleasant funk, I was met with a tinny, off-putting — and overpowering — tang. Emily Heil, Washington Post, 18 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'off-putting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-putting was in 1935

Dictionary Entries Near off-putting

Cite this Entry

“Off-putting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-putting. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

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