off-putting

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

off-putting
    adj 1: causing annoyance or repugnance; "an off-putting remark"
    2: tending to repel; "The trappings of upper-class life are off-
       putting and sterile"- Elizabeth Hess

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

off-putting \off-putting\ adj.
   1. hard to deal with.

   Syn: awkward, disconcerting, embarrassing, sticky, tight,
        unenviable.
        [WordNet 1.5]

   2. tending to repel.

   Syn: unappealing.
        [WordNet 1.5]

              The trappings of upper-class life are off-putting
              and sterile.                        --Elizabeth
                                                  Hess