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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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 offensive line in particular needed to be deeper, after constant shuffling for injuries last year. — CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 New offensive coordinator Kade Bell wanted Dieffenbach to make another position switch, this time from quarterback to tight end. — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026
Noun
The offensive aimed to suppress the Houthis' capabilities, but recent attacks show the group has regrouped. — Azhar Sukri,terri Cullen, CNBC, 11 Oct. 2026 Manhattan’s Upper East Side is famously picturesque, but never is its charm offensive stronger than a weekday morning in early fall. — Elly Leavitt, Vogue, 8 Oct. 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
  • That’s likely to inspire either affection or immediate exhaustion, depending on your fondness for the infamously disgusting performance group.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 8 Oct. 2026
  • People tend to think of waste as trash, sewage, slag, manure and other seemingly useless or disgusting substances.
    — Edward D. Melillo, The Conversation, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • The nudity is also more gratuitous and the counselors more obnoxious.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
  • Carla is suffering through a press junket for a new spy movie titled The Milliner with her obnoxious co-star, Jeremy (Aaron Tsindos).
    — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of obnoxious
Noun
  • On three separate occasions in the past week, Ukraine didn’t receive early warnings about missile attacks.
    — Claire Carter, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026
  • OpenCode had been running its defense with an OpenAI model, which started to refuse its requests in the middle of the attack.
    — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Definition of attack
Adjective
  • My right pants leg was gone and among the smaller cuts an ugly gash puckered at me from the calf.
    — Gerald R. Hunter, Outdoor Life, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The first attempts at a foldable smartphone in the 2010s from other companies tended to be fragile and not all that useful, with a big, ugly crease in the center interrupting the experience.
    — Andrew R. Chow, Time, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Detection is no substitute for prevention, not when consequences are truly unacceptable.
    — Andrew Ginter, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026
  • The win won’t change what’s frankly been an unacceptable campaign for a program that was 18-1-4 just two seasons ago.
    — Ryan Kartje, Los Angeles Times, 19 Oct. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Noun
  • Asked what the return of star freshman wide receiver Trent Mosley brought to the USC offense, Trojans quarterback Jayden Maiava kept his answer simple.
    — Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
  • His value could be the difference for the Gators, opening up an offense that projects to run through one of the most dominant frontcourts in college basketball history.
    — Noah White, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of offense
Adjective
  • Jake Bauers has been awful for most of his career, but graduated in 2018 as a top-50 prospect.
    — Ian Miller OutKick, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Trailing 12-0 after its awful start, BC scored the next 14 points, jumping in front on McKenzie’s 11-yard score to Javarius Green.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • The judge also has noted that some of the objectionable stories cited by the DOJ do not have to do with national security.
    — Ted Johnson, Deadline, 2 Oct. 2026
  • With betrayal, lies, backstabbing and a cast of exceptionally objectionable characters, reality TV has all the ingredients for a great thriller novel.
    — L.M. Chilton, PEOPLE, 26 Sep. 2026
Definition of objectionable

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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 22 Oct. 2026.

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