obnoxious
obnoxious
Pronunciation
/əbˈnɒkʃəs/ ~(Received Pronunciation, common in the UK)
/əbˈnɑkʃəs/ ~ (General American, common in the US)
Here's a breakdown of the sounds by syllable:
əb:
ə: This is the schwa sound, a neutral vowel sound like the "a" in "about".
b: This is the standard voiced bilabial stop, the same "b" sound as in "bed".
nɒk (UK) or nɑk (US):
n: This is the alveolar nasal, the same "n" sound as in "nose".
ɒ (UK) or ɑ (US): This is a vowel sound.
ɒ is an open back rounded vowel, similar to the "o" in "hot" in some British accents.
ɑ is an open back unrounded vowel, similar to the "a" in "father" in American English.
k: This is the voiceless velar stop, the same "k" sound as in "kite".
ʃəs:
ʃ: This is the voiceless postalveolar fricative, the "sh" sound as in "ship".
ə: Again, the schwa sound as described above.
s: This is the voiceless alveolar fricative, the "s" sound as in "sun".
Word Form Variations
"Obnoxious" is an adjective, so it doesn't have singular or plural forms like nouns. However, it does have the following word form variations:
Obnoxious (adjective): This is the base form of the word, used to describe something extremely unpleasant or offensive.
Example: "The man's behavior was obnoxious."
Obnoxiously (adverb): This describes the way in which something is done in an obnoxious manner.
Example: "He laughed obnoxiously."
Obnoxiousness (noun): This refers to the quality of being obnoxious.
Example: "The obnoxiousness of his comments was shocking."
Unobnoxious (adjective): Meaning not obnoxious; inoffensive. This form is less common
Example: "Surprisingly, the celebrity was quite unobnoxious."
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Obnoxious (adjective)
Definition: Extremely unpleasant; offensive or objectionable to the point of causing strong dislike or annoyance.
Synonyms: repulsive, abhorrent, detestable, odious, repugnant, revolting, disgusting, appalling, dreadful, terrible, awful, insufferable, intolerable, egregious
Antonyms: pleasant, agreeable, delightful, charming, appealing, engaging, delightful, amiable, courteous
Obnoxiously (adverb)
Definition: In a manner that is extremely unpleasant, offensive, or objectionable.
Synonyms: offensively, repulsively, appallingly, dreadfully, terribly, awfully, insufferably, intolerably, egregiously
Antonyms: pleasantly, agreeably, delightfully, charmingly, appealingly, engagingly, delightfully, amiably, courteously
Obnoxiousness (noun)
Definition: The quality or state of being extremely unpleasant, offensive, or objectionable.
Synonyms: offensiveness, repulsiveness, hatefulness, loathsomeness, repugnance, disgustingness, awfulness, dreadfulness, terribleness, insufferableness, intolerableness, egregiousness
Antonyms: pleasantness, agreeableness, delightfulness, charm, appeal, engagingness, delight, amiability, courteousness
Unobnoxious (adjective)
Definition: Not obnoxious; inoffensive; not causing dislike or annoyance.
Synonyms: pleasant, agreeable, delightful, charming, appealing, engaging, delightful, amiable, courteous
Antonyms: obnoxious, repulsive, abhorrent, detestable, odious, repugnant, revolting, disgusting, appalling, dreadful, terrible, awful, insufferable, intolerable, egregious
Examples of Use
Books:
Fiction: "He had an obnoxious habit of chewing gum loudly during meetings." (Example in a contemporary novel)
Non-fiction: "The author describes the dictator's obnoxious displays of wealth and power." (Biography or historical text)
Newspapers:
"The columnist denounced the politician's obnoxious comments as racist and divisive." (Opinion piece in The New York Times)
"Local residents complained about the obnoxious noise levels from a nearby construction site." (Community news in a local newspaper)
Online Publications:
"Social media users criticized the influencer for their obnoxious flaunting of luxury goods." (Article on a website like Buzzfeed)
"The review described the movie's humor as juvenile and obnoxious." (Film review on a site like Rotten Tomatoes)
Entertainment:
Television: A reality show contestant is labeled "obnoxious" by other participants for their arrogant behavior. (Competition show like "Survivor")
Movies: A comedic character known for their obnoxious laugh and loud personality. (e.g., characters played by Melissa McCarthy)
Music: A song with lyrics that satirize obnoxious behavior in modern society. (e.g., a song by Bo Burnham)
General Public Discourse:
Social Media: People using the word "obnoxious" to describe everything from annoying internet trends to political figures they disagree with. (Common on platforms like Twitter)
Everyday Conversations: "That guy at the party last night was so obnoxious, he wouldn't stop bragging about his car." (Casual conversation)
10 Famous Quotes Using Obnoxious
"An obnoxious person is simply someone whose views differ from your own—loudly." – Anonymous
"The secret of success is sincerity. Once you can fake that, you’ve got it made—but don’t be too obnoxious about it." – Jean Giraudoux
"Obnoxiousness is often just confidence without tact." – Anonymous
"The difference between confidence and being obnoxious is knowing when to stop talking." – Simon Sinek
"The most obnoxious people are often the loudest about their ignorance." – Mark Twain
"An obnoxious fool is often just an uninformed man with a megaphone." – H.L. Mencken
"A person is smart. People are often obnoxious, panicky, dangerous animals." – Tommy Lee Jones
"Obnoxious people teach us patience, if nothing else." – Anonymous
"Arrogance becomes obnoxious the moment humility is lost." – C.S. Lewis
"Being obnoxious is easy; being respected takes effort." – Anonymous
Etymology
The word "obnoxious" has a fascinating history, and its meaning has shifted a bit over time.
It comes from the Latin word "obnoxius," which meant "liable to harm" or "exposed to danger." Imagine someone standing in the middle of a battlefield – they would be "obnoxious" in the original sense because they're vulnerable to attack.
This Latin word was formed by combining two parts:
"ob": This means "towards" or "against."
"noxius": This means "harmful" or "injurious." Think of the word "noxious" – something poisonous or harmful.
So, initially, "obnoxious" described someone in a precarious position, subject to something bad.
The first recorded use in English was in the late 1500s. Back then, it was closer to the original Latin meaning, describing someone vulnerable or under someone else's control.
Over time, the meaning shifted. People started using "obnoxious" to describe things they found unpleasant or offensive. This is the meaning we use today – something extremely annoying, disagreeable, or even repulsive.
So, while the original meaning focused on vulnerability to harm, it evolved to describe something that causes a kind of harm – to our senses or sensibilities! It's like saying something is so unpleasant, it's almost like an attack on our well-being.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Obnoxious
Existing Phrases (rare, but in use):
"Obnoxious behavior": This is the most common, simply highlighting the action, not a set phrase.
"To be obnoxious to someone": Again, straightforward, meaning to act offensively towards them.
Phrases with Synonyms:
"A pain in the neck": Captures the annoying aspect of "obnoxious."
"To get under someone's skin": Similar to being irritating and hard to tolerate.
"To rub someone the wrong way": Creating a negative impression, like obnoxiousness does.
Original Phrases (playing with the word):
"Obnoxious as a bagpipe in a library": Emphasizes the inappropriateness.
"To have an obnoxious streak a mile wide": About someone with a strong tendency for it.
"Obnoxiousness personified": If someone truly embodies the quality.
Idioms with Similar Effect (not literal, but convey the feeling):
"Like nails on a chalkboard": That visceral dislike of a sound.
"To be a thorn in someone's side": Constantly causing problems or irritation.
"To wear out one's welcome": Overstaying or being too much, leading to dislike.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of obnoxious from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
