noxa

injury, harm

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An inconsiderate passenger blows a party horn directly beside another passenger’s ear while sprawling across a shared bench; the disturbed passenger recoils and covers his ear.

adjective

obnoxious

ub-NAHK-shus/əbˈnɑːkʃəs/

Extremely unpleasant or annoying.

Etymology

obLatintoward, against; in the way

+noxiousLatininjury, harm

The pieces originally suggest being exposed to injury, not causing annoyance. The word shifted from vulnerability or subjection to being offensive and objectionable, under the influence of noxious.

Full entry

Related word entries

obnoxious