What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
unpleasant
Example
The smell in the room was very unpleasant. [unpleasant: adjective]
Example
It was an unpleasant experience, but I learned a lot from it. [unpleasant: adjective]
Example
I had an unpleasant feeling in my stomach after eating that food. [unpleasant: adjective]
offensive
Example
His comments were offensive and hurtful to many people. [offensive: adjective]
Example
Using that kind of language is offensive and unacceptable. [offensive: adjective]
Example
The company's actions were offensive to many customers and caused a lot of controversy. [offensive: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Unpleasant is more commonly used than offensive in everyday language. Unpleasant can be used in a variety of contexts, while offensive is more specific and often used in more formal or serious situations.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between unpleasant and offensive?
Offensive is generally considered more formal and serious than unpleasant. It is often used in professional or legal contexts to describe behavior or language that violates social norms or values.
