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

Attacks continued, despite a peace agreement The government struck a peace agreement with Tigrayan rebels in 2022, ending most hostilities, but attacks on healthcare continued.

— Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 10 Nov. 2026
The last three-way talks, in Geneva nine months ago, also took place as attacks continued.

— Susie Blann, Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of attacks

Noun

After the raids ramped up in January, tens of thousands of former workers ended up in the capital, Phnom Penh, many sleeping in the streets.

— ABC News, ABC News, 5 Nov. 2026
American bombers aiming for Nantes’ port hit the city center instead, killing about 1,400 people and destroying more than 700 buildings in two raids.

— Shahnaz Bashir, The Conversation, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of raids

Noun

During the sentencing hearing the victims submitted statements about how the assaults had impacted their lives.

— K.J. Yossman, Variety, 9 Nov. 2026
He was first received into the state prison system in 1996 and later received additional sentences for possessing or manufacturing a weapon while incarcerated and two separate assaults on correctional officers involving gassing.

— Richard Ramos, CBS News, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of assaults

Noun

International games don’t always deliver marquee offenses, but Spanish fans should get a good look at one of the league’s hottest quarterbacks.

— Andy Scholes, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2026
Morrow is a 45-year-old woman convicted of misdemeanor assault and three petty offenses for blocking a Department of Homeland Security building and touching an agent’s shoulder in south Charlotte last November.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 5 Nov. 2026

Definition of offenses

Noun

Its songs are littered with black holes, disasters, nuclear bombs; there are guttural screams and onslaughts of distorted guitar.

— Marissa Lorusso, Pitchfork, 28 Oct. 2026
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

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

But what fleeting experiments the band attempts don’t gel into much.

— Sam Goldner, Pitchfork, 6 Nov. 2026
The 2026 second-round pick out of Louisville converted his first three 3-point attempts, at a stage the rest of his teammates were 4 of 14 from beyond the arc.

— Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of attempts

Noun

Footage from Houthi-run Al-Masirah TV showed hospital staff carrying limp bodies of multiple young children from ambulances after Saturday's strikes.

— AHMED HATEM, Arkansas Online, 8 Nov. 2026
Defense officials told The Times that the campaign has already consumed multiple munitions per target to ensure successful strikes, raising internal questions over the conduct of the war under Hegseth’s leadership.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 7 Nov. 2026

Definition of strikes

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offensiveness

offensives

offer

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“Offensives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensives. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of offensives

noun

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