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
Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
Running back Breece Hall is averaging 5.3 yards a carry despite an inconsistent offensive start, and Fields is a threat to tuck and go at any moment.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Debates have raged in the busy industry program, standby ticket queues have snaked outside venues for the hottest premieres and the stars — in their droves — have been out in force and on major charm offensives, with distributors using the fest to launch both awards and release campaigns.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
Mizzou should have a blast getting through Auburn’s offensive line this week.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
Running back Breece Hall is averaging 5.3 yards a carry despite an inconsistent offensive start, and Fields is a threat to tuck and go at any moment.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 10 Oct. 2025
Noun
Since October 2023, Israel's ground and air offensives in Gaza have displaced more than 2 million people and killed more than 68,000 Palestinians, according to the AP.
—Mandy Taheri, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Oct. 2025
Debates have raged in the busy industry program, standby ticket queues have snaked outside venues for the hottest premieres and the stars — in their droves — have been out in force and on major charm offensives, with distributors using the fest to launch both awards and release campaigns.
—Alex Ritman, Variety, 17 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
Football is a way of bringing people together irrespective of their faith, colour or religion and this disgusting decision does the exact opposite.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
18 Oct. 2025
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These are more disgusting smears peddled by the media and billboard law firms.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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And Chalamet never once came across as grating, obnoxious, or desperate.—
Jon Blistein,
Rolling Stone,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Chelsea, with her ridiculous request for a rug brought from home, may very well be obnoxious.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
6 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
The Islamists were seen as complicit in India’s worst plane hijack in 1999 and the 2008 attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, which killed several Indian citizens, including two senior diplomats.—
Happymon Jacob,
Time,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Shannon will man larger perimeter players, but not necessarily the point of attack as often.—
Fred Katz,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Broncos escaped, but this was ugly.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
20 Oct. 2025
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On the other side, there was just as much commotion, but these conversations were almost hysterical — and far uglier.—
Julyssa Lopez,
Rolling Stone,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The New York State GOP Executive Committee then voted unanimously to revoke the Young Republicans’ charter on October 17, 2025, citing mismanagement and condemning the language as unacceptable in the party or its affiliates.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Oct. 2025
-
Others are preaching patience, but acknowledge that the status quo is unacceptable.—
Scott Dochterman,
New York Times,
12 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Chicago has emerged as a focal point in the national debate, with the city's leadership vocally opposing federal immigration crackdowns and raids.—
Adeola Adeosun,
MSNBC Newsweek,
19 Oct. 2025
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An attempt to set fire to the truck used to carry out the raid was foiled by a Louvre security officer, forcing the burglar to flee, according to the culture ministry’s statement.—
Martin Goillandeau,
CNN Money,
19 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Only instead of ignoring or burying this awful truth, Kai travels the world, speaking at synagogues and in Jewish community centers about his family’s dark past — and at high schools and colleges to ensure that the atrocities of Nazi Germany are never forgotten or sanitized.—
Johnny Dodd,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
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Stanford has been awful on the road, losing to Hawaii and getting blown out by BYU and Virginia.—
Harold Gutmann,
Mercury News,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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Reading certain books felt like an objectionable act for Emily Zarka as a kid in 1990s Vermont.—
Jose R. Gonzalez,
AZCentral.com,
15 Oct. 2025
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More recently, the Biden administration pressured social media companies to take down content the administration deemed objectionable, overriding the companies’ judgment and forcing them to comply.—
Agustina Vergara Cid,
Oc Register,
11 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 22 Oct. 2025.
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