on the offensive
idiom
: in or into a situation or position in which one attacks or fights against someone or something
The soldiers are on the offensive.
She went on the offensive to fight the charges against her.
Examples of on the offensive in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Green Bay Packers couldn't get anything going on the offensive side of the football on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles, a very concerning sign for a team that just fell to the Carolina Panthers.
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Jon Conahan, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Russia has been on the offensive for two years, and the pressure on Ukraine will mount as the density of Ukrainian defenders thins.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
Morton seemed to place the blame on the offensive line for the offense’s struggles against Minnesota.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Now, however, OpenAI is going on the offensive.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the offensive
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Jon Conahan, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Nov. 2025
Russia has been on the offensive for two years, and the pressure on Ukraine will mount as the density of Ukrainian defenders thins.
—Jack Watling, Foreign Affairs, 11 Nov. 2025
Morton seemed to place the blame on the offensive line for the offense’s struggles against Minnesota.
—The Athletic Staff, New York Times, 10 Nov. 2025
Now, however, OpenAI is going on the offensive.
—Matteo Wong, The Atlantic, 10 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for on the offensive
Cite this Entry
“On the offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/on%20the%20offensive. Accessed 16 Nov. 2025.
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