offensive
causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying: offensive television commercials.
unpleasant or disagreeable to the sense: an offensive odor.
repugnant to the moral sense, good taste, or the like; insulting: an offensive remark; an offensive joke.
pertaining to offense or attack: the offensive movements of their troops.
characterized by attack; aggressive: offensive warfare.
the position or attitude of aggression or attack: to take the offensive.
an aggressive movement or attack: a carefully planned naval offensive.
Origin of offensive
1synonym study For offensive
usage note For offensive
Other words for offensive
1 | displeasing, vexatious, vexing, unpleasant |
2, 3 | distasteful, disgusting, revolting, repellent |
3 | repulsive, shocking |
4 | invading, attacking |
Opposites for offensive
Other words from offensive
- of·fen·sive·ly, adverb
- of·fen·sive·ness, noun
- non·of·fen·sive, adjective
- non·of·fen·sive·ly, adverb
- non·of·fen·sive·ness, noun
- o·ver·of·fen·sive, adjective
- o·ver·of·fen·sive·ly, adverb
- o·ver·of·fen·sive·ness, noun
- pre·of·fen·sive, adjective
- pre·of·fen·sive·ly, adverb
- pre·of·fen·sive·ness, noun
- qua·si-of·fen·sive, adjective
- qua·si-of·fen·sive·ly, adverb
- su·per·of·fen·sive, adjective, noun
- su·per·of·fen·sive·ly, adverb
- su·per·of·fen·sive·ness, noun
- un·of·fen·sive, adjective
- un·of·fen·sive·ly, adverb
- un·of·fen·sive·ness, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use offensive in a sentence
It would be offensive to the voters they’re losing, and whom they’ll need in the future.
The crisis isn’t too much polarization. It’s too little democracy. | Ezra Klein | November 12, 2020 | VoxThe offense is scoring almost nine points per game less than you would expect based on the down, distance and field position of each offensive play, per data from TruMedia.
It’s really hard to describe how bad the Jets are, but here’s our best effort | Neil Greenberg | November 12, 2020 | Washington PostHis rate of swinging at pitches outside the strike zone was very similar to 2019, a much better offensive season for him.
A bulked-up Victor Robles had a down year. He’ll look to fine-tune his game in winter ball. | Jesse Dougherty | November 12, 2020 | Washington PostLocksley recently called the offensive line “probably the most improved group on our team.”
Taulia Tagovailoa responded after a rough opener and now Maryland’s offense is rolling | Emily Giambalvo | November 11, 2020 | Washington PostLions’ Matthew Stafford, multiple 49ers offensive players placed on teams’ covid-19 lists25.
NFL Week 10 power rankings: Saints move up on the heels of the Steelers and Chiefs | Mark Maske | November 10, 2020 | Washington Post
Beinart highlights two of them: Gaza and the offensiveness of baby-counting.
In his beyond-the-pale derision and offensiveness, he turned it into a night that could never have been an Oscar ceremony.
The Gaudy, Gauche and Sometimes Corrupt Greatness of the Golden Globes | Richard Rushfield | January 16, 2012 | THE DAILY BEASTThis year was no different, and even threatened to smash the record for apparent offensiveness.
The Pepsi Max Super Bowl Ad and the Myth of Angry Black Women | Raina Kelley | February 11, 2011 | THE DAILY BEASTBeyond the offensiveness, Terry laments the muddled messaging on such an important topic.
It cannot be said that the offensiveness of the act of disobedience is tempered by any very conciliatory tone in the words used.
The Life of Nelson, Vol. I (of 2) | A. T. (Alfred Thayer) MahanHe tried in these words to be slightly offensive; the offensiveness, however, went wide of the mark, and he was sorry.
The Angel of Pain | E. F. BensonThere was almost always a certain sleek offensiveness about Charles Kingsley when he sat down to write.
Adventures in Criticism | Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-CouchBut not even Father Healy could keep the tale from growing in magnitude and increased offensiveness.
Grey Town | Gerald BaldwinAll their offensiveness notwithstanding, they have a stately flight.
The Land of Little Rain | Mary Austin
British Dictionary definitions for offensive
/ (əˈfɛnsɪv) /
unpleasant or disgusting, as to the senses
causing anger or annoyance; insulting
for the purpose of attack rather than defence
the offensive an attitude or position of aggression
an assault, attack, or military initiative, esp a strategic one
Derived forms of offensive
- offensively, adverb
- offensiveness, 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
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