offensive

[ uh-fen-siv or, for 4, 5, aw-fen-, of-en- ]

See synonyms for: offensive offensively offensiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

noun

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

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 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

Opposites for offensive

1, 2	pleasing
4	defensive

See antonyms for offensive on Thesaurus.com

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 | Vox
The 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 Post
His 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 Post
Locksley 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 Post
Lions’ 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.
Who's Afraid of Caroline Glick? | Ahmed Moor | May 24, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
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 BEAST
This 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 BEAST
Beyond the offensiveness, Terry laments the muddled messaging on such an important topic.
France's Anti-Smoking Faux Pas | Eric Pape | February 24, 2010 | THE DAILY BEAST
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) Mahan
He 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. Benson
There was almost always a certain sleek offensiveness about Charles Kingsley when he sat down to write.
Adventures in Criticism | Sir Arthur Thomas Quiller-Couch
But not even Father Healy could keep the tale from growing in magnitude and increased offensiveness.
Grey Town | Gerald Baldwin
All their offensiveness notwithstanding, they have a stately flight.
The Land of Little Rain | Mary Austin

British Dictionary definitions for offensive

offensive

/ (əˈfɛnsɪv) /

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, 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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