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
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
Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Brown said shot distribution isn’t the biggest indicator of his offensive efficiency.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
Texas State football offensive lineman Brock Riker has entered the transfer portal, a source confirmed Sunday night to the American-Statesman.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
But then the Broncos’ offensive woes crept back to the forefront.
—Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 8 Jan. 2026
Brown said shot distribution isn’t the biggest indicator of his offensive efficiency.
—Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
Noun
The country has experienced several waves of sectarian clashes since the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December 2024 that brought to an end nearly 14 years of civil war.
—CNN Money, 28 Dec. 2025
Texas State football offensive lineman Brock Riker has entered the transfer portal, a source confirmed Sunday night to the American-Statesman.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 28 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
By modern standards, kind of disgusting.—
Glenn Garner,
Deadline,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But stepping into that closet was really disgusting.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
So how will Stevie, who shares a bedroom with her obnoxious little brother, Elliot (Elias Janssen), keep the family together?—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
9 Nov. 2025
-
Various new characters join in on the fun, including Chris Elliott’s Riff Raff-style butler and Tori Spelling’s obnoxious try-hard friend, Alex.—
Declan Gallagher,
Entertainment Weekly,
31 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Good's defenders – including city and state leaders – are calling what happened an unjustified attack; federal authorities say the agent was acting in self-defense.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
-
In Kyiv, a CNN reporter said that the attack began around midnight, starting with multiple drone strikes on residential buildings.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Not because the moms themselves are toxic people, but because the dynamic shifts into an ugly place with mean-girl behavior.—
Madison E. Goldberg,
PEOPLE,
7 Jan. 2026
-
Sure, coach Mike Tomlin's teams tend to win ugly games, but not in the playoffs — at least not lately.—
Austin Mock,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Not making payments to them for even another day is simply unacceptable.—
Katherine Faulders,
ABC News,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Hufanga deemed that first-quarter Jeanty touchdown unacceptable because any touchdown is unacceptable at this point to Denver’s defense.—
Luca Evans,
Denver Post,
7 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Gatica was tracked down, arrested on charges of DUI and related offenses, and booked into the Orange County Jail.—
Greg Wehner , Bill Melugin,
FOXNews.com,
10 Nov. 2025
-
The Tigers’ offense, which has scored at least 88 points in all three games, erupted for a season-best showing.—
Scott Chasen,
Kansas City Star,
10 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
The Hoosiers, of course, are the prime example of a longtime awful football program rising to the top.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Mamdani hasn’t had time yet to flesh out his awful, socialist ideas into real policies that adversely affect New Yorkers.—
Nicole Russell,
USA Today,
8 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
That Alabama didn’t drop a spot in the rankings after being drubbed by Georgia in the SEC championship was objectionable.—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
9 Jan. 2026
-
The institution is politically objectionable, of course, and intellectually bankrupt.—
Andrew Martin,
New Yorker,
14 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 12 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share