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
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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
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offensive
Sam Blum, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Later in the game, Stowers added to the offensive output with a key RBI single that extended the Marlins’ lead and helped seal the win.
—Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025
Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
The offensive has led to the closure of northern Gaza's main hospitals, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis amid ongoing blockades.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
This weekend won’t erase that, or all of the offensive, defensive and pitching stats that still rank the Angels near the worst in baseball.
—Sam Blum, New York Times, 19 May 2025
Later in the game, Stowers added to the offensive output with a key RBI single that extended the Marlins’ lead and helped seal the win.
—Isaac Azout, Miami Herald, 17 May 2025
Noun
Israel’s retaliatory offensive, which has destroyed large swaths of Gaza, has killed more than 53,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which doesn’t differentiate between civilians and combatants in its count.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Los Angeles Times, 20 May 2025
The offensive has led to the closure of northern Gaza's main hospitals, exacerbating the humanitarian crisis amid ongoing blockades.
—Emma Marsden, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
Police call fake GoFundMe page 'disgusting' Concord Police Capt. Brian Goldman said police are investigating.—
Norman Miller,
USA Today,
7 May 2025
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But where was the anger from Erik Spoelstra in his post-game news conference about this disgusting performance?—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
-
But some less-expensive papers have an overwhelmingly obnoxious chemical smell.—
PC Magazine,
PC Magazine,
10 May 2025
-
The Ford Ranger Raptor is big, beautifully obnoxious, comfortable, quick and carries many logs.—
Matthew MacConnell,
Forbes.com,
6 May 2025
Noun
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The attack left about 1,200 people dead, and militants captured Alexander and some 250 others to hold hostage. 'Greatest gift': Family of NJ's Edan Alexander heads to Israel as Hamas agrees to release How many hostages remain in Gaza?—
Kathryn Palmer,
USA Today,
13 May 2025
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Edan Alexander, a 21-year-old Israeli soldier, was captured while on duty during the Hamas attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023.—
Brittney Melton,
NPR,
12 May 2025
Adjective
-
The series between the Warriors and the Rockets was slow, low scoring, and ugly—which is exactly how the younger, less experienced Rockets wanted it.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
11 May 2025
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This wasn’t the first time Green was subjected to ugly behavior from opposing fans.—
Curtis Pashelka,
Mercury News,
10 May 2025
Adjective
-
All these attacks are unacceptable, and this isn't just an American problem.—
Mandalit del Barco,
NPR,
13 May 2025
-
That should be unacceptable to American negotiators.—
Benjamin Weinthal,
FOXNews.com,
12 May 2025
Noun
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On Saturday, an employee at one of Smith’s restaurants shared insight into how operations have changed since the increase in raids.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
19 May 2025
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The Clay County Sheriff’s Office was not informed of the raid ahead of time.—
Sofi Zeman,
Kansas City Star,
16 May 2025
Adjective
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The downsides are that DEET smells awful, is oily, and can damage anything with plastic in it, like synthetic clothing and camping gear.—
Kristin Canning,
Wired News,
21 May 2025
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But Eleanor has backed herself into an awful corner, and in some ways, so too has Johansson’s film, which is stuck trying to impart sage wisdom through the lens of a truly hideous (if well-meaning) lie.—
Kate Erbland,
IndieWire,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Decriminalizing prostitution would undoubtedly help law enforcement specifically target objectionable forms of prostitution but until that happens, such loitering laws are required.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
8 May 2025
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But at the same time, much of Means’s philosophy toward health doesn’t seem that objectionable.—
Nicholas Florko,
The Atlantic,
8 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 24 May. 2025.
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