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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 Carolina Panthers played their offensive starters for three series on Saturday, and the result was an utter flop. — Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 16 Aug. 2026 The Panthers seem to have focused on their offensive line as well, getting a couple of solid pieces. — David Troy Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Noun
Ousted in lightning offensive Assad, who was born in 1965, became president in 2000 after his father Hafez died. — Kinda Makieh, USA Today, 11 Aug. 2026 The protests were met by a brutal government crackdown that spiraled into a 14-year civil war that ended with Assad’s ouster in a lightning rebel offensive. — Ghaith Alsayed, Los Angeles Times, 11 Aug. 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
  • This whole situation is discriminatory, disgusting, and quite frankly, Orwellian.
    — Jon Root OutKick, FOXNews.com, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That it’s populated with disgusting creatures and monsters, Jackson’s forté, doesn’t hurt.
    — Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of disgusting
Adjective
  • Stuff like Caitlin Clark getting mugged with no foul being called, or Sophie Cunningham pointing at some obnoxious player, or ESPN drooling over a coach wearing a pro-trans shirt.
    — Zach Dean OutKick, FOXNews.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Meanwhile, the running frenemy dynamic between senior trooper Thorny (Chandrasekhar) and his coarse, obnoxious colleague Farva (Kevin Heffernan) takes more strain than usual when Farva becomes engaged to Thorny’s sister Sarita (Hannah Simone).
    — Guy Lodge, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of obnoxious
Noun
  • Kyiv has stepped up its attacks on Russia this year, with long-range missiles and swarms of drones targeting military industries and energy facilities.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026
  • Weeks of Iranian drone and missile attacks on the UAE earlier this year, the vast majority of which were intercepted, sparked tensions among locals and hammered the country's tourism and aviation industry.
    — Jenni Reid,Emma Graham, CNBC, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of attack
Adjective
  • Some of the coverage may be ugly and unfair, but isn’t obscurity worse?
    — Mike Bianchi, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 Aug. 2026
  • The City of Atlanta and Fulton County’s Board of Commissioners have been trading negotiations over the sale of the Atlanta City Detention Center, and things have started to get ugly.
    — AJ Willingham, AJC.com, 12 Aug. 2026
Definition of ugly
Adjective
  • Custard said, for the public, all this adds up to unacceptable risk.
    — Yuki Noguchi, NPR, 20 Aug. 2026
  • But to build a web of accusations based on false premises and the manipulation of reality in order to attack the Biennale and a film invited to compete is a petty and unacceptable act.
    — John Bleasdale, Variety, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Noun
  • The lack of offense was familiar, except for the aberration of Thursday night’s 18-run outburst against the Houston Astros.
    — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Tua Tagovailoa has been in the spotlight, after starting last week and struggling through his first live opportunities with the offense.
    — AJC Sports, AJC.com, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of offense
Adjective
  • The disease still makes lots of people feel awful for a week or two, foiling their summer vacations and forcing them to miss work and school.
    — Rob Stein, NPR, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Singing in the shower, gardening, baking, and writing poetry (yes, even awful poetry) are all good options.
    — Laura Bradley, HEALTH, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of awful
Adjective
  • Advertisers stayed away, worried that ads would appear next to antisemitic posts, misinformation, and other objectionable content.
    — Jon Brodkin, ArsTechnica, 6 Aug. 2026
  • Almost two decades ago in Germany, a particularly wily octopus named Otto short-circuited his aquarium’s electrical system by shooting jets of water at an overhead light that perhaps caused an objectionable glare.
    — Cody Cottier, Scientific American, 29 July 2026
Definition of objectionable

Browse Nearby Words

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 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of offensive for Spanish Speakers

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