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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of offensive
CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
There are multiple teams picking in the 20s that are looking for offensive line help.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026
Kevin Williams, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
In the first 10 days of Israel’s March offensive, CNN counted 523 buildings destroyed across 22 communities.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
Williams is coming off his 12th Pro Bowl season — the most for any offensive tackle — and is two shy of tying Hall of Famer Bruce Matthews' record for any offensive lineman.
—CBS News, 20 Apr. 2026
There are multiple teams picking in the 20s that are looking for offensive line help.
—Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Apr. 2026
Noun
But despite the bipartisan appeal, some tech companies, including IBM, have gone on the offensive for other reasons.
—Kevin Williams, CNBC, 25 Apr. 2026
In the first 10 days of Israel’s March offensive, CNN counted 523 buildings destroyed across 22 communities.
—Zeena Saifi, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
What a disgusting story all around.—
Zach Dean OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Making a disgusting joke about assassinating the President #2.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Whether the obnoxious popup will end up being a wise move for the company is anything but clear.—
Victor Tangermann,
Futurism,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Good firm with good people to work with, meaningful and intellectually stimulating work, satisfied and not-overly-obnoxious clients.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
29 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
The Kings have prioritized defense for most of the past two decades, often playing a sticky, trapping style that doesn’t promote offensive creativity or attack.—
Greg Beacham,
Los Angeles Times,
2 May 2026
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Severe is the second-highest rung on a five-point scale and means intelligence agencies consider an attack highly likely in the next six months.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
The most expensive Republican primary for governor in Georgia history is still a dead heat despite a staggering avalanche of ad spending and one of the ugliest intraparty fights in recent memory.—
Greg Bluestein,
AJC.com,
30 Apr. 2026
-
Ohm, well played by Scott who can wither with you with a look, is the classic ugly American and is rude to everyone at the hotel, but those putdowns and cruelty hides his self loathing.—
Randy Myers,
Mercury News,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Those parties clinging to the outdated and socially unacceptable business model that relies on selling puppy mill puppies to unsuspecting consumers are no longer welcome in nine states and over 520 localities and some are looking for a new home.—
Annie Hornish,
Hartford Courant,
27 Apr. 2026
-
Adamawa State Governor Ahmadu Umaru Fintiri denounced the attack as tragic and unacceptable during a visit to the village on Monday.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Detroit turned up the heat on defense while Orlando’s offense came to a complete halt.—
Jason Beede,
The Orlando Sentinel,
2 May 2026
-
Stearns stuck him with an aging hitter who didn’t have spring training in Tommy Pham to try to jumpstart the offense and give Mendoza a bench piece that could hit left-handed pitching.—
Abbey Mastracco,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
Adjective
-
Their banter is empty because outside the season’s premiere, The Boys hasn’t actually shown us this awful America, and how everyone within it, including celebrities, are at risk.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
29 Apr. 2026
-
This state has had some awful governors, but none in modern times ever attempted anything so repugnant as exposing more children to deadly diseases, as DeSantis has.—
Orlando Sentinel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Among the art conservatives found objectionable was artist Andres Serrano’s photograph titled Piss Christ featuring a plastic crucifix in a tawny liquid the artist described as his own urine.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
22 Apr. 2026
-
Florida’s education commissioner also promised to investigate teachers over objectionable comments about Kirk.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
15 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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