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
Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
The Chiefs have made some smaller moves to shore up the offensive line and secondary but could make a big splash in the draft by adding an exciting receiver prospect.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 19 Mar. 2025
The sixth time happened on Tuesday, when the Israeli military restarted an all-out offensive on the enclave, ending the few months of relative peace Abu Daqqa had enjoyed.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
Utah’s Kevin Stenlund then took a high-sticking penalty in Buffalo’s offensive zone.
—Matthew Fairburn, The Athletic, 21 Mar. 2025
The Chiefs have made some smaller moves to shore up the offensive line and secondary but could make a big splash in the draft by adding an exciting receiver prospect.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 20 Mar. 2025
Noun
Kyiv has meanwhile hesitated to make territorial concessions and instead requested security guarantees that Russia will not resume its offensive at a later time.
—Ruxandra Iordache, CNBC, 19 Mar. 2025
The sixth time happened on Tuesday, when the Israeli military restarted an all-out offensive on the enclave, ending the few months of relative peace Abu Daqqa had enjoyed.
—Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 19 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
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Using that platform to engage in partisan attacks and accuse former Department leadership of weaponizing law enforcement is a disgusting betrayal of those values.—
Mark Davis,
Newsweek,
14 Mar. 2025
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Continue reading … ‘PRO-CRIMINAL’ – Blue state sheriff unloads on 'disgusting' bill targeting the right to self-defense.—
Fox News,
Fox News,
11 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Tim, Victoria, and Piper The episode begins with an obnoxious fake-out where Tim imagines killing himself, before sending most of the Ratliffs, save Saxon, off to the monastery so Tim and Victoria can have a look around this place where their daughter intends to live for at least a year.—
Alan Sepinwall,
Rolling Stone,
23 Mar. 2025
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In that role, Simpson distinguished himself as a foul-mouthed, intemperate, obnoxious purveyor of misinformation about Social Security.—
Michael Hiltzik,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Ceasefire in tatters The ceasefire that took hold in January paused more than a year of fighting ignited by Hamas’ Oct. 7, 2023, attack in Israel, in which militants killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and took about 250 hostage.—
Wafaa Shurafa and Samy Magdy,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Mar. 2025
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The ceasefire started in January, pausing a 15-month war sparked by Hamas' Oct. 7, 2023, attack on Israel.—
Landon Mion,
Fox News,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Plus, with fewer games, an ugly two weeks in the NBA usually signals a five-alarm fire and overreactions.—
Shane Young,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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This included industrialization, and, with it, the conception of leisure as a way of allowing people to recuperate from work with a temporary escape from the ugly, unhealthy atmosphere of the city.—
Livia Gershon,
JSTOR Daily,
23 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Restaurants rated unacceptable must close to fix their issues and require reinspection prior to reopening.—
Lillie Davidson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
26 Mar. 2025
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Plagiarism Policies Plagiarism is unacceptable in academic circles.—
Rowan Briggs,
Mercury News,
24 Mar. 2025
Noun
-
Drone surge The January double-tap attack was part of a wider wave of drone raids, reportedly the biggest of the 37-month wider war for the Ukrainians.—
David Axe,
Forbes,
20 Mar. 2025
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Rather than each episode being filled with heart-pounding action, the series establishes itself with a frantic, stressful raid on Jamie’s house and his subsequent arrest, then dissolves into a crime show that’s much more meticulous and robust beyond the thrills at the top.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
18 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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To have hate at such a young age for another student is awful.—
Kellie Love,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2025
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But against lefties, while hitting from the righty batter's box, Cabrera has been downright awful, with a .562 OPS and anemic .209 batting average in 187 career plate appearances.—
Josh Hammer,
Newsweek,
19 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Is that commercial piece the most objectionable part of the package?—
Peter Sullivan,
Axios,
24 Feb. 2025
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Powell understood the inherent unpredictability of military intervention, especially against a regime that, while objectionable, might be the one thing binding a society together.—
Thomas G. Moukawsher,
Newsweek,
12 Feb. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 30 Mar. 2025.
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