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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of offensive
Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 20 Dec. 2024
The Chargers, who turned the ball over on a Justin Herbert interception on their previous offensive drive, initially ran the offense onto the field to possibly throw a Hail Mary.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
More than 44,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 105,000 wounded by Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives, launched in retaliation for the Hamas militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
—Wafaa Shurafa and Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for offensive 
Adjective
Haaland also created a task force to eliminate offensive geographic names.
—Debra Utacia Krol, The Arizona Republic, 20 Dec. 2024
The Chargers, who turned the ball over on a Justin Herbert interception on their previous offensive drive, initially ran the offense onto the field to possibly throw a Hail Mary.
—Thuc Nhi Nguyen, Los Angeles Times, 20 Dec. 2024
Noun
Yet, in November, after four years of relative stalemate, opposition groups launched a surprise offensive as Assad’s three key allies — Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah — were stretched thin with other conflicts.
—Sefa Secen / Made By History, TIME, 17 Dec. 2024
More than 44,500 Palestinians have been killed and more than 105,000 wounded by Israel’s bombardment and ground offensives, launched in retaliation for the Hamas militant group’s Oct. 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel that killed about 1,200 people, mostly civilians.
—Wafaa Shurafa and Fatma Khaled, Los Angeles Times, 14 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
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That ends up dislodging the disgusting foreign item in Larry's throat.Esther Zuckerman, TIME, 12 Dec. 2024
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Leigh goes for the gags in this one, from Broadbent’s workplace pratfall to friend of the family Aubrey’s (Timothy Spall) disgusting new restaurant.Fran Hoepfner, Vulture, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Like, watched it all the way through from the shrill opening filled with obnoxious kids to the leadenly staged slapstick climax?Keith Phipps, Vulture, 5 Dec. 2024
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Although the court was an obnoxious shade of yellow to signify and celebrate the NBA Cup occasion, Denver was officially eliminated from the group stage of the in-season tournament by halftime, due to other results around the league.Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 3 Dec. 2024
Noun
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Rod Metzer eventually pleaded guilty to 14 counts relating to the attack on Morgan Metzer.Michael Loftus, CBS News, 13 Dec. 2024
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The strikes Thursday evening came as Palestinian medics were still surveying the morning's deadly toll of fierce Israeli attacks, including on Nuseirat camp.Democrat-Gazette staff from wire reports, arkansasonline.com, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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For many people, finding the perfect ugly Christmas sweater is an annual tradition.Shea Simmons, People.com, 12 Dec. 2024
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In a Hungarian cartoon from around 1951, Churchill is seen as an ugly villain, ready to set households and factories on fire.Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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This time difference is unacceptable and the cause of many breaches.Austin Gadient, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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During Tuesday’s meeting, board members agreed that Morris’ remark was unacceptable.Ian James, Los Angeles Times, 12 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The recent raid of a woman’s Tennessee home, where more than 300 vials fake weight loss drugs were found, sheds light on a growing concern across the country as the black market for such medicines explodes.Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 18 Dec. 2024
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The raid drove polygamy in fundamentalist Mormon communities further underground and allowed people like Warren Jeffs to rally followers by using their fear of the government.Jeremy Duda, Axios, 18 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Murray’s magic trick Murray’s uncanny ability to transform awful individual performances into timely heat checks and cold-blooded game-winners is one of life’s great mysteries.Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 17 Dec. 2024
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Her awful journey is a raging scream against the patriarchy and a biting critique of how women are viewed, especially by other women.The Week US, theweek, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Gaetz was the most objectionable among a group of nominees who would have faced immediate disqualification during an earlier era.Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 21 Nov. 2024
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The opening foreward of the book points out that some of the content might be objectionable to some modern audiences.Rob Wieland, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near offensive
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 26 Dec. 2024.
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