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Glite Dictionary
🕊️ Not aggressive 👃 Not unpleasant 🙂 Not upsetting
nonoffensive

nonoffensive

3.6
Has a mild smell or taste people do not dislike
  • adjective
  • /ˌnɒnəˈfɛnsɪv/
translation icon : no ofensivo
  • The soup had a nonoffensive flavor that everyone at the table could enjoy.

Examples

  • He wore a nonoffensive cologne that was subtle and not overpowering.

  • She chose a nonoffensive air freshener so guests would not notice any strong chemical smell.

  • This perfume has a nonoffensive scent.

  • I prefer nonoffensive flavors in my food.

  • She chose a nonoffensive air freshener so guests would not notice any strong chemical smell.

  • The soup had a nonoffensive flavor that everyone at the table could enjoy.

  • He wore a nonoffensive cologne that was subtle and not overpowering.

Synonyms

tasteless
vsnonoffensive
11 2.6

Having little or no flavor when you eat it

focuses on preventing unpleasant smell or taste reactions rather than mere lack of flavor
inoffensive
vsnonoffensive
5 3.2

Not likely to upset or annoy people

is about avoiding unpleasant sensory reactions rather than social annoyance or anger
flavorless
vsnonoffensive
  • US
4 3.5

Food that has little or no taste and seems bland

does not aim to have no taste but to avoid unpleasant sensory reactions
unoffensive
vsnonoffensive
1 3.7

Something that does not upset people and is harmless

focuses on avoiding bad smell or taste reactions rather than general harmlessness
nonirritating
vsnonoffensive
3.4

Does not make skin, eyes or other sensitive parts feel sore

is used for avoiding unpleasant reactions in smell or taste rather than skin
pleasant-smelling
vsnonoffensive
3.0

Having a nice scent

is about avoiding unpleasant smells or tastes rather than being pleasant
unoffendable
vsnonoffensive
6.4

Not likely to upset people, for example a comment or design

centers on preventing physical or sensory unpleasant reactions rather than avoiding offense

Antonyms

offensive
15 5.3

Having a bad smell or taste that bothers you

How Offensive

repulsive
59 5.5
pungent
18 4.8
nonoffensive
3.6
faint
148 2.7
odorless
  • US
11 3.0

Surface Forms

nonoffensive positive

Morphology

nonoffensive = offensive (transparent) = non + offensive

The prefix 'non-' negates the adjective 'offensive' in its sensory sense (unpleasant smell/taste), which is directly predictable.

Etymology

Nonoffensive combines non- 'not' with offensive, which can mean 'causing disgust' or 'unpleasant'. So nonoffensive describes something like a smell or taste that is 'not likely to cause discomfort or disgust'.