as in obnoxious
not pleasing or likable; causing you to feel dislike of someone or something
He has an off-putting manner. The restaurant's garish décor was off-putting.
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Recent Examples of off-putting
The show began with a pre-recorded segment echoing Alfred Hitchcock's Psycho that featured Sam Elliott as an off-putting traffic cop.
—
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
For those who lock in, there’s a lot of classic Adult Swim–isms, like awkward silences added to the edit, found footage of ugly and off-putting men, and repetition of graphics packages ad nauseam.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Nothing here is more off-putting, however, than the prospect of drinking milk in a hot tub.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
Makio’s relationship with Shingo is rich and complicated, revealing new vulnerabilities in a character whose initially somewhat off-putting in her coldness.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off-putting
Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Apr. 2026
For those who lock in, there’s a lot of classic Adult Swim–isms, like awkward silences added to the edit, found footage of ugly and off-putting men, and repetition of graphics packages ad nauseam.
—Eric Vilas-Boas, Vulture, 18 Mar. 2026
Nothing here is more off-putting, however, than the prospect of drinking milk in a hot tub.
—James Hibberd, HollywoodReporter, 23 Feb. 2026
Makio’s relationship with Shingo is rich and complicated, revealing new vulnerabilities in a character whose initially somewhat off-putting in her coldness.
—Wilson Chapman, IndieWire, 20 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for off-putting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for off-putting
Adjective
-
Perhaps folks view Laesch’s behavior as obnoxious or counterproductive or simply not in his lane.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
28 May 2026
-
The Golden Knights are obnoxious.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
19 May 2026
Adjective
-
This blood and other stuff that blew out on the road is disgusting, and the smell is really awful.—
Rachel Raposas,
PEOPLE,
26 May 2026
-
Both are also, objectively speaking, disgusting.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
An open box will absorb unpleasant smells in your bathroom for up to four months.—
BestReviews,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
-
Though a person infected with the virus may experience unpleasant symptoms, others may be asymptomatic.—
Mary Walrath-Holdridge,
USA Today,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Lemieux was 37, and had a reputation as one of those players who knew where to be, and when, around the ugly areas on the ice in a playoff game.—
Mac Engel
May 29,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
29 May 2026
-
We, viewers and voters, are subjected to very ugly photographs and rhetoric.—
DP Opinion,
Denver Post,
29 May 2026
Adjective
-
Some predict ‘awful consequences’ However, the US has its own specialized network of hospitals that are highly equipped to treat Ebola patients that some experts say would be much better utilized.—
Jamie Gumbrecht,
CNN Money,
27 May 2026
-
Lean says the experience had an awful effect on him, filling him with shame and a reluctance to direct again.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
The concept of this many women vying for West is somewhat sickening to me.—
Emma Specter,
Vogue,
27 May 2026
-
So united and powerful were these Indigenous people that some of their enemies started to get desperate, that whiff of anxiety taking on a sickening stench.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
26 May 2026
Adjective
-
But, following a string of disappointing national-team performances, including failing to qualify for the 1958 World Cup and shocking losses to both the Soviet Union and North Korea at the 1966 edition, the league reinstated the ban.—
Albert Samaha,
New Yorker,
30 May 2026
-
Somebody Somewhere — a naturalistic, moving three-season performance that culminated in a shocking Emmy win for best supporting actor last year.—
David Canfield,
HollywoodReporter,
30 May 2026
Adjective
-
This used to be a death knell—the shoes that fit the bill were hideous until a few years ago.—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
31 May 2026
-
Any idea on when this hideous barcode-design strip will be released?—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Off-putting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/off-putting. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.
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