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
Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2025
The Texas Longhorns offensive tackle, 21, was the No. 9 pick at the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday, April 24, when he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
The Ukrainian army entered Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, capturing dozens of settlements in the biggest offensive by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
In return, the Bears received a treasure chest of compensation that has now netted them Moore, Williams, offensive tackle Darnell Wright, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson and punter Tory Taylor.
—Sean Hammond, Chicago Tribune, 26 Apr. 2025
The Texas Longhorns offensive tackle, 21, was the No. 9 pick at the 2025 NFL draft on Thursday, April 24, when he was drafted by the New Orleans Saints.
—Madison E. Goldberg, People.com, 25 Apr. 2025
Noun
Since then, more than 51,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Israeli offensive, according to local health authorities.
—Joshua McElwee, USA Today, 22 Apr. 2025
The Ukrainian army entered Russia’s Kursk region on August 6, capturing dozens of settlements in the biggest offensive by a foreign army on Russian soil since World War II.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 18 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
The fridge was smelly and disgusting before it was replaced about a week later.—
Chris Higgins,
Kansas City Star,
21 Apr. 2025
-
Vandalizing the State Republican Party's property with disgusting Nazi symbols while screaming about 'fascism' reveals these individuals are hypocrites, idiots, or both.—
Ewan Palmer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Whitmer wages charm offensive against Trump as other Dems attack As much as Trump enjoys skewering his rivals, the president has lauded Whitmer on multiple occasions since returning to power.—
Phillip M. Bailey,
USA Today,
1 May 2025
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Yet Slot never lost sight of this threat and ensured that rapid-fire counters remained at the heart of Liverpool’s attack.—
Mark Carey,
New York Times,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
The Heat finished with an ugly 12-34 record against opponents that finished this regular season with a .500 record or better.—
Anthony Chiang,
Miami Herald,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Brinkley in her book describes one ugly scene when Joel, deep in his cups, ate a heap of spaghetti directly from a large pan on the stove, then vehemently kicked everyone out of the house for eating his pasta.—
Marc Weingarten,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
Tom Schwartz later says that the behavior is completely unacceptable, as does Jason.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2025
Noun
-
Pakistan responded by aerial raids, downed an Indian military aircraft and captured an Indian pilot, who was later released.—
Time,
Time,
25 Apr. 2025
-
One of the day laborers, who avoided being detained, spoke to ABC7 News about the traumatic effect of the raid.—
Clara Harter,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
Nottingham Forest vs Manchester City Before the turn of the year, Manchester City were stuck in an awful rut.—
Sam Tighe,
New York Times,
25 Apr. 2025
-
The grandson of the benefactor whose maiden name christens the auditorium itself (The Fish Theater, which spawns a stream of awful fish puns as long as a whale), Jack was born into ballet and defends dance with every fiber of his being.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
24 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
DeSantis had, apparently, figured out a way to stuff Make America Great Again into a sleeker, less objectionable package, one that appealed to both traditional Republican business interests and the newly influential far right.—
Drew Nelles,
Time,
28 Apr. 2025
-
President Trump and his top adviser on downsizing the government, Elon Musk, have ordered nearly every agency to reduce staff on a tight deadline to overhaul the government, in part by eliminating programs the president views as ideologically objectionable.—
Eileen Sullivan,
New York Times,
2 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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