3 syllables: Ob, nox, ious. Stress on nox.
ahb-NAHK-shuhs
/ɑˈbnɑkʃəs/
Obnoxious is pronounced ahb-NAHK-shuhs (/ɑˈbnɑkʃəs/). It has three syllables (Ob-nox-ious), with the stress on "nox". Obnoxious is an adjective describing something or someone extremely unpleasant, offensive, or irritating to others. It conveys a strong, negative judgment about behavior, presence, or sifat—often implying a loud, intrusive, or unappealing quality. In use, it flags a clear breach of social norms and can sound judgmental in tone. (2–4 sentences).
adjectiveObnoxious is an adjective describing something or someone extremely unpleasant, offensive, or irritating to others. It conveys a strong, negative judgment about behavior, presence, or sifat—often implying a loud, intrusive, or unappealing quality. In use, it flags a clear breach of social norms and can sound judgmental in tone. (2–4 sentences)
- You may fear pronouncing the /ɒ/ vowel in both the first two syllables; practice with slow, repeated pairs OB-nox- and then blend. - The /nɒk/ cluster can become /nək/ or /næks/ if you’re not careful; keep the alveolar /n/ followed instantly by /ɒ/ and /k/ with a hard stop. - The final /əs/ often reduces to a weak /əs/ or /əz/ in fast speech; keep it as a light, unstressed schwa but audible, finishing with a short /s/ to avoid trailing off. - In connected speech, some speakers insert a tiny vowel between /nɒk/ and /si/; aim for a clean /nɒk.si/ without extra vowels. Practice with slow, then normal pace to stabilize rhythm.
How to Pronounce Obnoxious
"His obnoxious comments during the meeting made everyone uncomfortable."
"The neighbor’s obnoxious barking kept the entire block awake."
"She wore an obnoxious cologne that overwhelmed the elevator full of people."
Pronounce as /ˈɒb.nɒk.si.əs/ in US/UK; US often sounds crisper with a sharper /æ/ or /ɒ/ in the first syllable depending on the speaker, while UK might maintain a more rounded /ɒ/ and a clearer /si/ before the final /əs/. The stress is on the first syllable. Think OB-nox-i-ous, with a crisp /ɡ/ or /k/? No, there’s a /k/ in the second syllable: /ˈɒb.nɒk.si.əs/. Practice by isolating OB- and Nox- with a quick pause between, then smooth the links for natural speech.
Common errors include delaying the /ˈɒb/ onset, misplacing the /nɒk/ cluster as /nəz/ or /noʊk/, and softening the final /əs/ to /ɪs/ in rapid speech. Correct by establishing a clear two-beat rhythm: OB-nox- (with clear /k/) -i-ous. Keep the /ɒ/ in the first and second syllables consistent, avoiding a schwa in the stressed syllables. Emphasize the consonant cluster /nɒk/ rather than turning it into /noʊk/.
In US, you’ll hear a clipped OB-nox-ious with a sharper final /əs/. UK tends to maintain a more rounded /ɒ/ in the first two syllables and a slightly lighter final /əs/. Australian pronunciation often softens vowels a touch but keeps the rhythm close to US, with a fuller /ɒ/ in the second syllable and a clear /si/ before the final /əs/. Across all, stress remains on the first syllable: /ˈɒb.nɒk.si.əs/.
Two main challenges: the /ɒ/ vowel in both the first and second syllables can be unfamiliar for speakers of close vowels, and the /nɒk/ consonant cluster requires precise articulation to avoid turning it into /nɪks/. Also, the final /əs/ can reduce in fast speech to /əs/ or /əz/. Focus on keeping a steady, staccato second syllable and crisp /k/ before /si/.
Unique to Obnoxious is the repeated short /ɒ/ sound in both the first two syllables and the stiff /k/ followed by /si/ before the trailing /əs/. A common trap is turning /ɒb.nɒk.si.əs/ into /ɒb.næks.i.əs/ or merging /si/ with /əs/. Maintain distinct /k/ and clear /si/ to preserve the word’s integrity in normal speed.
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Obnoxious comes from the Latin obnoxius, meaning harmful or exposed to, from ob- ‘toward, against’ + noxious ‘harmful.’ The root nox- relates to harm or injury. In Late Latin, obnoxius described something threatening or injurious, often in a legal or moral sense. By the 16th–17th centuries in English, it broadened to describe persons or conduct that is openly repulsive or offensive, i.e., something one cannot bear. The current sense emphasizes social offense and irritation. The form acquired the English -ious suffix to create an adjective indicating quality, rather than action. First known use traces to early modern English writings, aligning with Renaissance-era shifts in social etiquette and moral judgment, where “obnoxious” started to label traits or behaviors that provoke condemnation in communal settings.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "Obnoxious" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "Obnoxious"
-ous sounds
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