Cool MateDisgusting vs Offensive
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Disgusting
Top 2,000 (common)
Offensive
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
| Disgusting | Offensive | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ//🇺🇸 //dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ// | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈfensɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈfensɪv/"]/ |
| Meaning | Something very unpleasant or makes you feel sick. | Something that causes upset or hurt feelings. |
| Example | The taste of the spoiled milk was absolutely disgusting. | His comments were so offensive that they made several audience members uncomfortable. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 2,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | - | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | disgusting behavior, disgusting smell, disgusting food, disgusting sight, disgusting habit | be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, to |
| Antonyms | appealing, pleasant, delightful | inoffensive, pleasant, agreeable |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'disgusted' which is a feeling rather than a description., Using 'disgusting' to describe emotions instead of objects or actions., Overusing it in descriptions, which can sound exaggerated. | Confusing 'offensive' with 'offensive' as in military attack., Using 'offensive' to describe something that is just annoying., Not recognizing that what is offensive can vary by culture. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe strong feelings of dislike or aversion. Generally appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but could be considered impolite in formal situations. | Use 'offensive' to describe language, actions, or jokes that can hurt or upset people. Be careful in public settings or professional environments, as it may be inappropriate. |
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Frequently asked questions: Disgusting vs Offensive
What's the difference between Disgusting and Offensive?
Disgusting: Something very unpleasant or makes you feel sick. Offensive: Something that causes upset or hurt feelings.
Can you show an example of each?
Disgusting: The taste of the spoiled milk was absolutely disgusting. Offensive: His comments were so offensive that they made several audience members uncomfortable.
Can I use Disgusting and Offensive interchangeably?
Not always. Disgusting and Offensive are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.