Cool MateOffensive vs You’re disgusting
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Offensive
Top 2,000 (common)B2adjective
You’re disgusting
InformalTop 3,000 (common)
Most formal: OffensiveMost common: Offensive
| Offensive | You’re disgusting | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/əˈfensɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/əˈfensɪv/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //jʊər dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ//🇺🇸 //jʊr dɪsˈɡʌstɪŋ// |
| Meaning | Something that causes upset or hurt feelings. | You are very unpleasant or very rude. |
| Example | His comments were so offensive that they made several audience members uncomfortable. | You’re disgusting for treating animals that way! |
| Register | Neutral | Informal |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | adjective | |
| Collocations | be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, to, be, seem, become, extremely, fairly, very, to | you’re disgusting for, you’re disgusting to, you’re just disgusting |
| Antonyms | inoffensive, pleasant, agreeable | - |
| Common mistakes | 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. | Using it as a joke with someone you don't know well., Not understanding the severity of the insult., Confusing with 'You're gross', which is more playful. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use with caution; it can be very offensive. Suitable for close friends during a playful argument but inappropriate in serious contexts. |
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Frequently asked questions: Offensive vs You’re disgusting
What's the difference between Offensive and You’re disgusting?
Offensive: Something that causes upset or hurt feelings. You’re disgusting: You are very unpleasant or very rude.
Which is more formal: Offensive and You’re disgusting?
Offensive is the most formal of these.
Which is more common: Offensive and You’re disgusting?
Offensive is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Offensive: His comments were so offensive that they made several audience members uncomfortable. You’re disgusting: You’re disgusting for treating animals that way!
Can I use Offensive and You’re disgusting interchangeably?
Not always. Offensive and You’re disgusting 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.