OFFENSIVES Synonyms: 59 Similar and Opposite Words

offensives

noun

plural of offensive

as in attacks

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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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 offensives Ukraine can conduct localized offensives but not enough to shift the broader battlefield balance, despite mounting Russian losses. — ABC News, 8 Oct. 2026 Only small offensives are possible Ukraine can conduct localized offensives but not enough to shift the broader battlefield balance, despite mounting Russian losses. — Samya Kullab, Los Angeles Times, 8 Oct. 2026 However, further Houthi offensives have met stiffer resistance from the recuperated forces of the Presidential Leadership Council, depriving the group of another quick victory. — Brady Knox, The Washington Examiner, 4 Oct. 2026 With alarm bells ringing over potential Russian offensives — both digital and kinetic — in the coming months, vulnerable European nations must figure out if, and how, to respond. — Rafi Schwartz, TheWeek, 28 Sep. 2026 However, Iran analysts are highly skeptical that Tehran will prove capable of launching any such large-scale ground offensives any time soon. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 27 July 2026 Countries are scrambling not to fall behind in AI — and French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi are leading a personal charm offensives to court tech CEOs. — Kai Nicol-Schwarz,priyanka Salve, CNBC, 4 July 2026 By targeting logistics hubs and resource stockpiles, Ukraine is attacking the systems that sustain Russian offensives. — Aidan Stretch, CBS News, 9 June 2026 The twin offensives are targeting Hamas and Hezbollah respectively, though critics argue that the operations are motivated at least in part by domestic politics — Israel is due to hold elections by October — and are amplifying troubling humanitarian situations in Gaza and Lebanon. — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 29 May 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensives

Noun

In his statement, Dan also blamed Russia for a spate of attacks in recent weeks on civilian maritime transport in the Black Sea, which has left at least three people dead and has raised fears of an escalation in Russia's war against Ukraine.

— STEPHEN McGRATH, Arkansas Online, 28 Oct. 2026
The bomber could potentially conduct electronic attacks alongside its existing weapons operations, reducing its dependence on specialized escort aircraft in certain scenarios.

— Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 28 Oct. 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

Five dolphins died in less than eight months, sparking public outrage, raids by law enforcement and a criminal investigation.

— Valerie Greene, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Oct. 2026
Faheem Akram, 33, was arrested after a weekslong search involving raids across several parts of the country, a senior official at the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency, Atif Ameer, told reporters.

— ABC News, ABC News, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of raids

Noun

Having a consistent place to live is one of the most critical factors in breaking this cycle, reducing repeat offenses, and improving public safety – not to mention saving our communities money.

— Lake County News-Sun, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
What makes their offenses tick doesn’t always show up in the box score.

— Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of offenses

Noun

In fact, reported evidence suggests this software commitment (from a company making its revenue from hardware) has been crucial to Nvidia’s success in fending off onslaughts from other hardware vendors such as Intel.

— Nisha Talagala, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026
Ukraine has been largely helpless in similar Russian onslaughts in recent weeks.

— Tom Bowman, NPR, 4 Aug. 2026

Definition of onslaughts

Noun

As quotas for immigration arrests increased that spring, he was asked to press felony charges for even minor aggressions against agents.

— Emily Witt, New Yorker, 31 Aug. 2026
The United States deploys about 28,500 troops in South Korea as deterrence against potential aggressions from North Korea.

— ABC News, ABC News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of aggressions

Noun

Assassination attempts against Putin's foes -- routinely denied by the Kremlin -- have been common during his decades in power.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 23 Oct. 2026
The Horned Frogs averaged more rushing attempts than passing attempts while going 13-2.

— Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of attempts

Noun

Experts said some of the tension – particularly on issues related to diesel, with Trump blaming Ukrainian strikes on Russian oil refineries for soaring prices rather than the Iran war – may dissipate after the US midterms.

— Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 24 Oct. 2026
DeShields was 18-of-33 passing for 294 yards and threw scoring strikes of 1, 55 and 19 yards to Harris.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of strikes

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“Offensives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensives. Accessed 30 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of offensives

noun

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