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
Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Carter’s stock in the 2023 draft slid because of his role in a fatal car crash in college that killed a teammate, offensive lineman Devin Willock, and a Georgia recruiting staffer, Chandler LeCroy.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants beyond saying that women and children make up around half the dead.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
Prescott was able to land the first spit by walking near Carter’s direction and getting beside the shoulders of his offensive lineman following a brief offensive huddle.
—Kambui Bomani, Forbes.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Carter’s stock in the 2023 draft slid because of his role in a fatal car crash in college that killed a teammate, offensive lineman Devin Willock, and a Georgia recruiting staffer, Chandler LeCroy.
—Dan Gelston, Chicago Tribune, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
But the tenacity of Kyiv’s forces in holding back the Russian summer offensive has been a remarkable outlier, and wider Russian progress remains a fierce possibility in the weeks ahead.
—Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 8 Sep. 2025
Israel's retaliatory offensive has killed more than 64,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which does not distinguish between civilians and combatants beyond saying that women and children make up around half the dead.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Arkansas Online, 7 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
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And putting it on her fingers and in your babies mouth is disgusting.—
Ashley Vega,
PEOPLE,
5 Sep. 2025
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Because there are more aliens aboard the Maginot than just a Xenomorph, Hawley adds a few new wrinkles to the usual disgusting Alien progression of face-hugger to chest-burster.—
Noel Murray,
Vulture,
3 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Be a Good Sport Even if—especially if—you’re rooting against your hosts’ team, don’t be obnoxious in your fandom.—
Betsy Cribb Watson,
Southern Living,
6 Sep. 2025
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That the Kardashian family — sans Kendall — got to see the film early celebrates little beyond the fact that a Skims and Wicked collaboration might be forthcoming, but for longtime Wicked fans, this collaboration has proven one of the most obnoxious.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Bin Laden, through the al-Qaida terrorist organization, targeted the United States for nearly a decade before the 9/11 attacks in 2001, utilizing this large and expansive infrastructure.—
Richard Frankel,
ABC News,
11 Sep. 2025
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Polish officials said 19 objects entered its airspace during a large Russian air attack on Ukraine.—
George Petras,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This comes after Sunday's ugly loss to the Indianapolis Colts, a game that saw Hill catch just four passes for 40 yards.—
Drew VonScio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
9 Sep. 2025
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That’s a hard reality to stomach for Giants fans, who had to watch their offense go 4-for-16 on third downs, pile up just 157 passing yards and finish with six points in an ugly loss to the Commanders.—
Zak Keefer,
New York Times,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Unwavering loyalty Schrandt told ABC News that any deportations to Afghanistan are an unacceptable outcome.—
Chris Boccia,
ABC News,
5 Sep. 2025
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Cosmetics are not the only place that regulators assessed an unacceptable level of risk.—
Keyaira Boone,
Essence,
5 Sep. 2025
Noun
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In California’s strawberry fields, an ICE raid sparked widespread panic and disruption among farmworker communities.—
David Rodriguez Muñoz,
Freep.com,
7 Sep. 2025
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South Korean workers detained during a massive immigration raid in Georgia Thursday will be returned to South Korea on a chartered flight following negotiations, an official announced Sunday.—
Hanna Park,
CNN Money,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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But one other thing Reclaim does is show just how awful the Portal system is.—
Paul Tassi,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
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How the Dolphins grow from such an awful performance will be paramount.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
8 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The objectionable verbiage is sorted into categories, with explanations and descriptions.—
James Folta,
Literary Hub,
4 Sep. 2025
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The team consults the Urban Dictionary for meanings of less common terms and reviews an internal document of objectionable configurations.—
Angele Latham,
The Tennessean,
3 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 13 Sep. 2025.
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