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
Relevance
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
Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Houston would collect five more such hits Saturday night in an offensive awakening.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Trying to win 16 games with an offensive-tilt is misguided, mirroring how MLB teams reliant on home runs get knocked out by good pitching every October.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
The power of former MVP quarterback Josh Allen, a superior offensive line, run game and the benefits of facing a second-place schedule.
—Andrew Callahan, Boston Herald, 29 Mar. 2026
Houston would collect five more such hits Saturday night in an offensive awakening.
—Matt Kawahara, Houston Chronicle, 29 Mar. 2026
Noun
The announcement raised fears about the long-term effects of the Israeli offensive.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 27 Mar. 2026
Trying to win 16 games with an offensive-tilt is misguided, mirroring how MLB teams reliant on home runs get knocked out by good pitching every October.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 25 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
The amount of disrespect shown the Broncos is disgusting.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Building Alligator Alcatraz and being proud of treating people inhumanely while at the same time stealing money for his charity is disgusting.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
While his peers aimed to achieve maximum tension by barking about capitalism over jabbing, if not outright obnoxious, guitars, Shaw scrapped layer after layer—distortion pedals, crash cymbals, eventually the drum machine itself—to crystalize his band’s own sound.—
Nina Corcoran,
Pitchfork,
24 Mar. 2026
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There is Shereen Lani Younes as the gay Iranian indie filmmaker whose movie ends up all over the internet, alongside Saturday Night Live alum Jon Rudnitsky as the platonic ideal of an obnoxious agent and Kumail Nanjiani as his ever-suffering boss.—
Mia Galuppo,
HollywoodReporter,
23 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
On September 30th, a few days after the attack, Loomer called out Tim Cook and Sundar Pichai, the heads of Apple and Google, for making such programs available.—
Oriana van Praag,
New Yorker,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Israel strikes Iranian nuclear facilities Bahreini’s announcement came just hours after Iranian state media said two nuclear facilities had come under attack.—
Farnoush Amiri,
Chicago Tribune,
28 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Gavin Newsom loves to brag about his accomplishments as governor — a syndrome that sometimes backfires when reality raises its ugly head.—
Dan Walters,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
Stocks are quickly deteriorating, with each of the major averages on pace to post an ugly month of losses as hopes for a quick resolution to the Middle East conflict gives way to fear.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Even in the absence of any proven crime committed by Tisch, even in the naivest retelling or understanding of Tisch’s correspondences with Epstein, his unacceptable relationship with this man deserves censure.—
Pat Leonard,
New York Daily News,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Artemis has been trudging along at a once-every-three-years flight rate, which Isaacman deems unacceptable.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Garcia hopes to be in the lineup and help the offense turn things around at Truist Park.—
Jaylon Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
28 Mar. 2026
-
Cushing hopes the boost in scoring potential from the two deals last week can take pressure off the defense, considering the offense only mustered three shots on goal through the first two matches before showing more cohesion in the win over Gotham FC.—
Kyle Newman,
Denver Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
The timing is awful, as Rodon was scheduled to make a rehab start with the Yankees' Double-A affiliate.—
Logan Brown,
MSNBC Newsweek,
1 Apr. 2026
-
The Broncos were awful on the ground.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
29 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
In a letter obtained by CNBC, the league outlines examples of event contracts that could be easily manipulable by a single person, inherently objectionable, related to officiating and knowable in advance — and asks that operators refrain from offering such trades.—
Jessica Golden,
CNBC,
30 Mar. 2026
-
The Constitution protects a broad swath of speech, including much that the public finds objectionable.—
Cate Charron,
IndyStar,
13 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
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