# objectionable

/əbˈdʒɛkʃənəbəɫ/ (US) · /ɒbdʒˈɛkʃənəbəl/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/objectionable
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

causing people to feel offended or annoyed. You use this to describe something that you strongly dislike or disagree with.

For teachers: arousing disapproval, offense, or intense dislike. Often used in formal or legal contexts to describe behavior, language, or content that violates social or professional standards.

## Examples

- The manager found his rude behavior highly objectionable.
- The committee removed several objectionable scenes from the film before it was allowed to be shown in theaters.
- While the proposal was technically sound, the board rejected it on the grounds that the environmental impact was morally objectionable to the local community.

## Pitfalls

- Not "I am objectionable to that noise" but "That noise is objectionable to me" — Objectionable describes the thing that causes offense, not the person who feels the offense.

## Usage notes

- Often modified by adverbs of degree such as 'highly', 'deeply', or 'wholly'.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.