off-putting

adjective

off-put·​ting ˈȯf-ˌpu̇-tiŋ How to pronounce off-putting (audio)
: that puts one off : repellent, disconcerting
an off-putting attitude
off-puttingly adverb

Examples of off-putting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Any external feature can evoke it: a person’s hair or dress, the way food looks on a plate, an off-putting shop frontage… Inevitably, some writers have gone in the opposite direction. David Crystal june 27, Literary Hub, 27 June 2025 Death Stranding 2: On the Beach is like a symphony — a gorgeous classical concerto where an electric guitar occasionally cuts in to shred an off-putting, yet surprisingly sick riff. Hayes Madsen, Rolling Stone, 23 June 2025 One of the threads that runs through Hoberman’s book is the key role played by critics in creating audiences for obscure or off-putting work. Richard Brody, New Yorker, 6 June 2025 Washing up creates a creamy lather that isn’t slimy or off-putting, but really coats the hair and makes an impact. Kayla Blanton, People.com, 5 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for off-putting

Word History

First Known Use

1935, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of off-putting was in 1935

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Cite this Entry

“Off-putting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/off-putting. Accessed 6 Jul. 2025.

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