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
Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, Mark Mitchell and Jayden Stone led the offensive charge.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026
Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Anyone who finds that offensive is telling on themselves.
—Prince J. Grimes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
The Hurricanes also had a 20-8 edge on offensive rebounds.
—Michelle Kaufman, Miami Herald, 15 Feb. 2026
Meanwhile, Mark Mitchell and Jayden Stone led the offensive charge.
—Maddie Hartley, Kansas City Star, 15 Feb. 2026
Noun
In addition to praise for Justice Carlton's 17-point performance against Kentucky and the downplaying of any concern for All-American forward Madison Booker's offensive off night, Schaefer also taught a history lesson after the game.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 10 Feb. 2026
Anyone who finds that offensive is telling on themselves.
—Prince J. Grimes, USA Today, 9 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
The Epstein files reveal plenty of powerful people to have tolerated or participated in disgusting and shameful behavior.—
Gilad Edelman,
The Atlantic,
7 Feb. 2026
-
Hearing disgusting lies spread about my brother is absolutely gut-wrenching, and my family is deeply grateful so many people have stood up and helped tell his truth.—
Drake Bentley,
jsonline.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
By and large, Kenny comes off as a nice guy, if not a smidge obnoxious.—
Jordan Hoffman,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Feb. 2026
-
When an obnoxious influencer (Zach Galifianakis, delightfully punchable) dies in a freak accident at her gallery, Polina decides to pass off his corpse as an exhibition centerpiece.—
Kathleen Newman-Bremang,
Refinery29,
28 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Israel’s government has repeatedly criticized its counterpart in Australia for failing to address antisemitic attacks in the country.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
At least 77 people were killed in various attacks in Kordofan due to drone warfare in February.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
In more ways than one, this war has mutated into an ugly numbers game.—
Matthew Chance,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
The artist has described herself as a black hole where people can dump their feelings, but her music moves beyond ugly emotions toward catharsis.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The behavior's unacceptable, and so this is our way to try to end it or stop it, at least here in Manteca.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
That is completely unacceptable.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The Trojans eventually settled in on offense, but their stifling defense would have to lead the way throughout.—
Ryan Kartje,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Lawmaker Jorge Arreaza, who presented the bill, highlighted these carve-outs to ensure the measure does not shield serious offenses.—
Alessandra Freitas,
CNN Money,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And not this awful thing that happens again.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The Padres were mostly woeful for a decade before Preller’s arrival and wholly awful the first five seasons under his direction.—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Decisions were made by his staffers in his name that, while politically objectionable to those on the other side, were not inherently irrational.—
Bradley Gitz,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
-
That summer, the NYAG’s general counsel finally found an objectionable line in one of Goldis’s blog posts, titled Free to Ban.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 22 Feb. 2026.
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