Word: obnoxious (adjective)

Associations

"Obnoxious" describes someone or something that is very unpleasant, offensive, or annoying.

• Example 1: When he laughed loudly during the serious movie, people found him obnoxious. This shows that his behavior disrupted others' enjoyment.
• Example 2: The obnoxious advertisement interrupted the pleasant music, making it hard to focus. Here, the ad is intrusive and bothersome.
• Example 3: She gave an obnoxious comment during the meeting, making everyone uncomfortable. This indicates that her words were disrespectful or rude.

A well-known synonym for "obnoxious" is "offensive." The important difference is that "offensive" refers more to causing displeasure or anger; it can describe specific actions or words, while "obnoxious" often refers to a person's general behavior or attitude.

Substitution

Instead of "obnoxious," you could use:

• "annoying," which implies causing irritation but may not be as strong as "obnoxious."
• "rude," which focuses more on manners.
• "disagreeable," which suggests a general unpleasantness but might not imply offense.

Deconstruction

The word "obnoxious" comes from the Latin root "obnoxius," meaning "exposed to harm or injury," where "ob" means "towards" and "noxius" means "harmful." Over time, it evolved to specifically imply someone who is offensive or extremely annoying.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you found someone's behavior obnoxious? What did they do?
• How do you feel when you encounter something that is obnoxious?
• Can you name a situation where being honest might come off as obnoxious to someone?