1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
I find your disrespectful attitude toward religion very offensive the smell of rotting food is quite offensive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obnoxious
provoking or likely to provoke protest
insensitive, offensive remarks about the plight of the homeless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in attack
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
the primary offensive by the ground forces will commence at dawn tomorrow
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offensive
Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
That sparked an offensive onslaught in the later innings.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
Israel has ramped up its military offensive since ending two months of ceasefire.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
The Rockies went with Sean Bouchard, Nick Martini and Jordan Beck over him, believing Veen needed to demonstrate more consistency in his offensive approach.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 13 Apr. 2025
That sparked an offensive onslaught in the later innings.
—Steve Gorten, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
Noun
The group’s first leader, Abdul-Malik’s older brother Hussein al-Houthi, was killed in 2004 during a brutal offensive by the Yemeni military.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2025
Israel has ramped up its military offensive since ending two months of ceasefire.
—Aya Batrawy, NPR, 7 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
These were disgusting, irresponsible comments by someone who is charged with overseeing public health for hundreds of millions of people.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Apr. 2025
-
Do not tell the patient disgusting hospital stories about your own operations or procedures.—
Marla Jo Fisher,
Oc Register,
2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Pro athletes are generally expected to deal with difficult pressure, including contentious opponents and obnoxious fans.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Fortunately, because those obnoxious rings of hyperpigmentation have been irking our nerves for centuries, experts have had plenty of time to figure out effective treatment options.—
Essence Gant,
Allure,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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In March, two days of U.S. attacks killed more than 50 people, Houthi officials said.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
19 Apr. 2025
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Three decades later, the documentary Oklahoma City Bombing: American Terror looks back on that day, featuring interviews with law enforcement involved in the case and victims of the attack.—
Olivia B. Waxman,
Time,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Everyone knew it, especially when some San Francisco Giants batters took ugly hacks against it in the first inning.—
Matt Gelb,
New York Times,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Win that one, too, of course, and the No. 1-seed Cleveland Cavaliers and the best record in the NBA Eastern Conference would await to very likely only elongate the end for this Heat season and end it ugly. Do not expect a play-in to the Finals miracle run like Miami pulled off two years ago.—
Greg Cote,
Miami Herald,
17 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Shapiro told reporters at a news conference on April 16 that regardless of the motivation for the crime, political violence must be condemned as unacceptable in our society.—
Riley Beggin,
USA Today,
18 Apr. 2025
-
Any format that builds in a conflict of interest is unacceptable.—
Robert Greene,
Mercury News,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
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The police, several older unhoused people explained to me, were making their lives increasingly difficult by staging regular raids.—
Sarah Stillman,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
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Critics say such raids sow fear in vulnerable communities.—
Hannah Parry,
MSNBC Newsweek,
11 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Players who are in strong lineups on teams prone to having awful lineups on the floor in the same games are prone to having skewed impact numbers.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
14 Apr. 2025
-
The memes are endless as the LIV Golf star has played awful golf on Sunday.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
13 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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But there was nothing grammatically incorrect or aesthetically objectionable about how the fashion brand had used the em dashes.—
Miles Klee,
Rolling Stone,
11 Apr. 2025
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The resolution making the change states the council often considers multiple items on its agenda that are not controversial or otherwise objectionable, often leading to multiple unanimous roll call votes.—
Samuel Clanton,
arkansasonline.com,
10 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.
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