obnoxious

adjective

äb-ˈnäk-shəs How to pronounce obnoxious (audio)
Definition of obnoxiousnext
1
as in ugly
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment the obnoxious disc jockey caused many listeners to call the station with complaints

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offensive
provoking or likely to provoke protest an obnoxious comment for which there should be an immediate apology

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of obnoxious Citadel was successful but borderline obnoxious. — Gary Sernovitz, New Yorker, 15 June 2026 Later, as Piven was becoming a leading man in his own right thanks to his role as obnoxious agent Ari Gold on HBO's Entourage, the two seemed to drift apart. — Britt Hayes, Entertainment Weekly, 11 June 2026 The White Lotus' Jennifer Coolidge plays Monica Geller (Courteney Cox) and Phoebe's obnoxious old roommate, Amanda Buffamonteezi, on a season 10 episode of Friends in 2003. — Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 25 May 2026 The Golden Knights are obnoxious. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 19 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for obnoxious
Recent Examples of Synonyms for obnoxious
  1. ugly
  2. offensive
  3. disgusting
  4. unacceptable
  5. awful
  6. unpleasant
  7. horrible
  8. objectionable
Adjective
  • It was delivered with sneers, an ugly, small-minded few minutes in support of the sclerotic, disdainful of dynamic change.
    — Kevin Rennie, Hartford Courant, 25 July 2026
  • And after an ugly Congress filled with multiple shutdowns, the House is taking an increasingly confrontational approach toward the Senate.
    — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 23 July 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Since 2022, the Falcons haven’t finished worse than 10th in the NFL in rushing — and their new offense, led by coach Kevin Stefanski and offensive coordinator Tommy Rees, suggests that won’t soon change.
    — Daniel Flick, AJC.com, 20 July 2026
  • The Liberty were unable to find much offensive success after the break.
    — James Boyd, New York Times, 19 July 2026
Definition of offensive
Adjective
  • This is beyond disgusting, photos like this should be private.
    — StyleCaster Editors, StyleCaster, 24 July 2026
  • His shirt was soaked down below his collarbones, clingy and disgusting.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 22 July 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Tell them that their behavior is embarrassing and unacceptable.
    — Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 23 July 2026
  • Other officials told me that, in meetings of White House staff, Finer, the deputy national-security adviser, often asked what civilian death toll would be deemed unacceptable.
    — David D. Kirkpatrick, New Yorker, 20 July 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • Torres – one of Barcelona’s key men up front – had been having an awful tournament, missing a plethora of chances throughout Spain’s campaign and being benched after starting against Cape Verde.
    — Patrick Sung Cuadrado, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
  • In a clearing in the forest, his younger selves sit at a long table with the abbott, who is wearing the final boss of season three’s awful wigs.
    — Rebecca Alter, Vulture, 20 July 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • While some may be looking for more reasons to eat cookies, many more are simply hesitating to eat salads and other fresh produce amid a multistate outbreak of cyclospora, known for that unpleasant symptom, among others.
    — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
  • Principal owner John Middleton recently discussed the challenging decision to dismiss longtime manager Rob Thomson, admitting that terminating employees remains the most difficult and unpleasant aspect of his executive role, even after decades.
    — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
Definition of unpleasant
Adjective
  • My husband holds the pamphlet close to his face in bed the next morning, my light creating a horrible glare on the glossy paper.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
  • The family wants to have accountability for this horrible crime.
    — Eric Shawn, FOXNews.com, 18 July 2026
Definition of horrible
Adjective
  • Bees love to visit the blooms but many gardeners find the stalks of flowers objectionable.
    — Tom MacCubbin, The Orlando Sentinel, 25 July 2026
  • Actual theater buildings were built in Hartford and elsewhere in the 1790s but couldn’t overcome the formidable opposition of those who still considered theater to be a highly objectionable artform.
    — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 28 June 2026
Definition of objectionable

Browse Nearby Words

obloquy
obnoxious
obnoxiously
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Cite this Entry

“Obnoxious.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/obnoxious. Accessed 26 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on obnoxious

Nglish: Translation of obnoxious for Spanish Speakers

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