17 words starting with O

• oblique adjective

  slanting, not straight; not expressed directly

  He made an oblique remark about the mess instead of asking us to clean it.

  Like slanting, indirect, sloping

• obliterate verb

  to destroy or remove completely

  The flood obliterated the footpath along the river.

  Like destroy, erase, wipe out

• oblivious adjective

  not aware of what is happening around you

  Absorbed in her book, she was oblivious to the noise in the room.

  Like unaware, heedless, unmindful

• obsolete adjective

  no longer used because something newer has replaced it

  Floppy disks became obsolete once USB drives appeared.

  Like outdated, outmoded, defunct

• obstinate adjective

  refusing to change your mind, even when you should

  The obstinate goat would not move off the road.

  Like stubborn, headstrong, inflexible

• obstruct verb

  to block a path or prevent progress

  A fallen tree obstructed the road to the village.

  Like block, hinder, impede

• ominous adjective

  suggesting that something bad will happen

  Ominous black clouds gathered over the hills.

  Like threatening, menacing, foreboding

• onerous adjective

  difficult and heavy as a duty or responsibility

  Carrying water from the spring every day was an onerous chore.

  Like burdensome, demanding, heavy

• opaque adjective

  not letting light through; hard to understand

  The curtains were so opaque that no sunlight came into the room.

  Like nontransparent, unclear

• opportunist noun

  a person who uses chances for their own advantage, often unfairly

  The opportunist raised his umbrella prices as soon as it started raining.

  Like exploiter, self-seeker

• oscillate verb

  to move back and forth regularly; to keep changing between two states

  A pendulum oscillates from side to side at a steady rate.

  Like swing, sway, fluctuate

• ostensible adjective

  appearing or claimed to be true, but perhaps not really true

  The ostensible reason for his visit was to borrow a book, but he really wanted to see the puppy.

  Like apparent, supposed, professed

• ostentatious adjective

  showy in a way meant to impress others

  His ostentatious gold watch drew attention wherever he went.

  Like showy, flashy, extravagant

• outmoded adjective

  no longer fashionable or useful

  The library replaced its outmoded card catalog with a computer system.

  Like outdated, old-fashioned, obsolete

• outrage noun

  strong anger and shock at something seen as wrong

  There was public outrage when the old trees in the park were cut down.

  Like anger, fury, indignation

• overt adjective

  done openly and not hidden

  Instead of hiding his dislike of spinach, he made an overt show of pushing it aside.

  Like open, obvious, plain

• overwhelm verb

  to affect someone very strongly; to defeat completely with greater force

  The amount of homework overwhelmed him at first.

  Like overpower, swamp, inundate