Dictionary.com

offensive

[ uh-fen-siv or, for 4, 5, aw-fen-, of-en- ]
/ əˈfɛn sÉȘv or, for 4, 5, ˈɔ fɛn-, ˈɒf ɛn- /
Save This Word!
See synonyms for: offensive / offensively / offensiveness on Thesaurus.com
adjective
noun
the position or attitude of aggression or attack: to take the offensive.
an aggressive movement or attack: a carefully planned naval offensive.

OTHER WORDS FOR offensive

1 displeasing, vexatious, vexing, unpleasant.
2, 3 distasteful, disgusting, revolting, repellent.
3 repulsive, shocking.
4 invading, attacking.
See synonyms for offensive on Thesaurus.com
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as

candystring
candyfloss
candypuff
TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of offensive

1540–50; from Medieval Latin offēnsīvus, equivalent to Latin offēns(us), past participle of offendere (see offend) + -īvus -ive

synonym study for offensive

1. See hateful.

usage note for offensive

The label Offensive is used in this dictionary to indicate that a particular term or definition is likely to be perceived as insulting by a listener or reader—an affront to that particular individual or to an entire group of like individuals—whether or not an offense was intended. Offensive is often paired with the label Disparaging, which is used to indicate that those people who use the offensive term do so to offend intentionally.

OTHER WORDS FROM offensive

Words nearby offensive

offend, offended, offender, offense, offenseless, offensive, offer, offer document, offeree, offering, offering price
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Words related to offensive

abhorrent, abusive, annoying, distasteful, embarrassing, horrible, irritating, objectionable, obnoxious, outrageous, reprehensible, repugnant, repulsive, rude, shocking, aggressive, aggression, assault, invasion, onslaught

How to use offensive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for offensive

offensive
/ (əˈfɛnsÉȘv) /
adjective
unpleasant or disgusting, as to the senses
causing anger or annoyance; insulting
for the purpose of attack rather than defence
noun
the offensive an attitude or position of aggression
an assault, attack, or military initiative, esp a strategic one

Derived forms of offensive

offensively, adverboffensiveness, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
FEEDBACK