different between unacceptable vs obnoxious

English

Etymology

From Middle English unacceptabylle, equivalent to un- +? acceptable.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /??n.æk.?s?p.t?.bl?/, /??n.?k.?s?p.t?.bl?/, [??n.æk.?s?p.t??.b??], [??n.?k.?s?p.t??.b??]
• (US) IPA^(key): /??n.æk.?s?p.t?.bl?/, /??n.?k.?s?p.t?.bl?/, [??n.æk.?s?p.t??.b??], [??n.??k.?s?p.t??.b??]

Adjective

unacceptable (comparative more unacceptable, superlative most unacceptable)

1. unsatisfactory; not acceptable
2. (linguistics) not conforming to accepted usage

Synonyms

• inacceptable (less common)

Antonyms

• acceptable

Translations

Noun

unacceptable (plural unacceptables)

1. Something that is not acceptable.

English

Alternative forms

• obnoctious (obsolete)

Etymology

From Latin obnoxi?sus (“hurtful, injurious, dangerous”), from obnoxius (“punishable; liable to danger”), from ob (“against; facing”) + noxia (“hurt, injury, damage”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?b?n?k??s/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /?b?n?k??s/

Adjective

obnoxious (comparative more obnoxious, superlative most obnoxious)

1. Extremely unpleasant or offensive; very annoying, odious or contemptible.

2. (archaic) Exposing to harm or injury.
   • 1661, Robert Boyle, The Sceptical Chymist, page 26,

     To begin then with his Experiment of the burning Wood, it seems to me to be obnoxious to not a few considerable Exceptions.

Synonyms

• annoying    [WS]
• unpleasant    [WS]

Related terms

Translations

Further reading

• Douglas Harper (2001–2021) , “obnoxious”, in Online Etymology Dictionary