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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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 offensives
Since the army broke the siege on el-Obeid last year, the RSF has launched multiple offensives in attempts to reestablish the siege from several directions.
—
ABC News,
24 June 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
In response, guerrilla groups of liberals and the left emerged, gathering thousands of people in rural areas and launching offensives against the army.
—
Roberto Andrés,
The Dial,
28 May 2026
The Oilers won nine series in the last four years and represented the West in unsuccessful offensives against the Florida Panthers in each of the past two Junes.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Putin is widely expected to launch new offensives as the weather in Ukraine improves, piling further pressure on Kyiv.
—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
From these footholds, Indonesian special forces organized and launched offensives against Fretilin to force its retreat.
—
Agathe Demarolle,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Nation-states now pair kinetic strikes with digital offensives.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Mar. 2026
ABC News,
24 June 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
In response, guerrilla groups of liberals and the left emerged, gathering thousands of people in rural areas and launching offensives against the army.
—
Roberto Andrés,
The Dial,
28 May 2026
The Oilers won nine series in the last four years and represented the West in unsuccessful offensives against the Florida Panthers in each of the past two Junes.
—
Andrew Knoll,
Oc Register,
1 May 2026
Putin is widely expected to launch new offensives as the weather in Ukraine improves, piling further pressure on Kyiv.
—
Hanna Arhirova,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Mar. 2026
From these footholds, Indonesian special forces organized and launched offensives against Fretilin to force its retreat.
—
Agathe Demarolle,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
6 Mar. 2026
Nation-states now pair kinetic strikes with digital offensives.
—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
1 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensives
Noun
-
The British Army also provided protection from attacks by Native American tribes, giving many settlers little reason to support a rebellion.
-
Twice in recent days, the United States has launched retaliatory strikes on Iran following drone attacks on commercial ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
Noun
-
In January, the military government claimed the country’s largest-ever seizures of illicit drugs and drug-manufacturing equipment, taken from a total of 12 drug production sites during a series of raids in the northern part of Shan state.
-
No one was arrested in the raids.
Noun
-
Russia has still not managed to take the much smaller surrounding towns of Chasiv Yar, Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka, where back-and-forth assaults have been raging for years.
-
The attacks came a day after Ukraine launched what appeared to be one of Kyiv's biggest drone assaults since the Kremlin’s full-scale invasion more than four years ago.
Noun
-
The McCloskeys ultimately pleaded guilty to misdemeanor offenses in 2021 as part of a resolution to the case.
-
Each of the offenses carries a maximum of 20 years in prison.
Noun
-
Russia appeared to be flexing its military muscle in a show of force with its latest aerial onslaughts on Ukraine.
-
Wardley, 31, had never lost in 21 bouts before Saturday, and somehow withstood numerous onslaughts from Dubois (23-3) without ever touching the canvas in a remarkable display of courage.
Noun
-
Vitello, meanwhile, just takes it — macro- and micro-aggressions alike.
-
Athens was a belligerent city-state that fell victim to its own aggressions.
Noun
-
As Kennedy and Bessette spend more time together and grow closer, her intimidation of the spotlight and fear of invasive paparazzi often create tension in their relationship, despite his attempts to calm the situation.
-
An early furor over accepting valuable gifts, including designer spectacles and Taylor Swift concert tickets, was followed by a series of policy U-turns, especially clumsy attempts to cut welfare spending that stirred anger in Labour ranks.
Noun
-
In the longest start of his career, Mize threw first-pitch strikes to 16 of 22 batters and struck out five of his final six.
-
Gas prices have started to come down since the preliminary peace deal was announced, but the latest round of strikes has threatened to slow ship traffic through the strait, which carried 20% of the world's oil before the war.
Cite this Entry
“Offensives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensives. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
