unpleasant to hear; offensive; embarrassing
Meanings
3 senses · 9 examplesadjective
unpleasant to the ear; harsh-sounding; grating
Describes sounds, music, or voices that are discordant or unpleasant to listen to.
This piece sounds really strange and discordant—it's so unpleasant to hear.
He sings so badly that no one wants to listen.
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The renovation noise from next door is so harsh—it sounds like an electric drill spinning inside my head.
adjective
offensive; coarse; vulgar (of speech)
Describes language that is rude, insulting, or inappropriate in polite company.
Starting off by cursing at people—how offensive!
He always speaks so coarsely, never giving others any face.
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Stop saying such offensive things—nobody feels comfortable hearing them.
adjective
embarrassing; disgraceful; scandalous
Describes actions or situations that are shameful or would cause loss of face if made public.
How embarrassing it would be if this kind of thing got out!
Getting caught cheating on an exam—how disgraceful!
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Doing something like this for money—if word got out, it would be so scandalous.