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offensive 1 of 2

adjective

ə-ˈfen(t)-siv How to pronounce offensive (audio)
Definition of offensivenext
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

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

offensive

2 of 2

noun

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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offensive
Adjective
The low rate wasn’t just an offensive coordinator preference. — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 7 Sep. 2026
Noun
More than four decades ago, after months of setbacks in the war against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, thousands of young Iranian troops launched a surprise offensive that turned the tide. — Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026 This shift in focus is particularly evident around Druzhkivka, which has emerged as an important target of Russia’s offensive in the Donetsk region. — Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
  1. disgusting
  2. obnoxious
  3. attack
  4. ugly
  5. unacceptable
  6. offense
  7. awful
  8. objectionable
Adjective
  • These guys are disgusting over the radio in the heat of battle.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 7 Sep. 2026
  • The wealth disparity and how competitive sports enables opportunity hoarding is just disgusting.
    — Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Whether the actor is improvising or sticking closely to the script by Miles Hubley and Tommy White, Wilson’s talent and experience maintain the charm of a character who practically talks nonstop but in other hands could simply be obnoxious.
    — Todd Gilchrist, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026
  • Something specific that’s not too obnoxious and out of the box.
    — The Editors, Robb Report, 7 Sep. 2026
Definition of obnoxious
Noun
  • Ukraine's State Emergency Service said Tuesday that Russian strikes on Kyiv had killed one person and wounded seven other people since the start of the day, with attacks carried out on the capital's gas stations.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 16 Sep. 2026
  • The number of products deployed or dollars spent says little about an organization’s ability to withstand an attack.
    — Shane Buckley, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2026
Definition of attack
Adjective
  • But the core four aren’t the only transplants from Woodsboro, as Ghostface soon rears its ugly head, directly targeting them and whomever else is caught up in their orbit.
    — Michael Lee Simpson, Entertainment Weekly, 5 Sep. 2026
  • Especially if ugly seasons like last year pile up and the problem continues to snowball.
    — James Mirtle, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Immigrant and human-rights advocates called the situation unacceptable, particularly given the dangers facing returning Haitians, including gang killings and surging kidnappings.
    — Gérard Maxineau, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
  • That’s an unacceptable delay for units in active combat operations.
    — Nir Goldstein, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Noun
  • Although Inter Miami boasts the league’s top scorer in Messi (18 goals) and most potent offense with 59 goals, the team’s shaky defense has conceded the fifth-most goals in the East.
    — Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 11 Sep. 2026
  • Failure to cooperate or lying can lead to criminal charges, including contempt, perjury, obstruction and related offenses that threaten incarceration.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 11 Sep. 2026
Definition of offense
Adjective
  • To Morrison, as well as to the filmmakers, this awful backstory makes something cathartic of his accomplishment.
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Sep. 2026
  • So the fact that there was this whole section of gay actors who weren’t allowed to do that is awful.
    — Glenn Whipp, Los Angeles Times, 5 Sep. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • There were aspects of the smart-grid law that were objectionable such as provisions that gave state utility regulators next to no say in the level of rate hikes ComEd demanded to make the work happen.
    — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 24 Aug. 2026
  • Advertisers stayed away, worried that ads would appear next to antisemitic posts, misinformation, and other objectionable content.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
Definition of objectionable

Browse Nearby Words

offenses
offensive
offensiveness
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Cite this Entry

“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 16 Sep. 2026.

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