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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Recent Examples of offensives
Dynamic shifts on the battlefield — with large swaths of Ukrainian land changing hands in offensives and counteroffensives in the early years of the war — have since given way to a conflict of inches.
—
Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
In previous offensives, Shabab managed to move back into areas after government forces withdrew or failed to maintain a presence.
—Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The report said Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 49 to 230 feet per day in their most prominent offensives.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Higher-level Russian headquarters interpret this footage as evidence that territory has been captured and therefore do not order further offensives.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Decades of military offensives, however, have considerably weakened Abu Sayyaf and other such armed groups, and Philippine military and police officials say there has been no recent indication of any foreign militants in the country's south.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Russian forces are intensifying offensives in Donetsk, expanding long-range strikes on cities and energy infrastructure, and pressing for territorial concessions.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Troops once used stands of trees or other natural barriers to defend themselves against small offensives.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
Israel’s offensives outside Gaza were even more popular.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Joanna Kakissis, NPR, 24 Feb. 2026
In previous offensives, Shabab managed to move back into areas after government forces withdrew or failed to maintain a presence.
—Omar Faruk, Los Angeles Times, 18 Feb. 2026
The report said Russian forces have advanced at an average rate of between 49 to 230 feet per day in their most prominent offensives.
—Arkansas Online, 29 Jan. 2026
Higher-level Russian headquarters interpret this footage as evidence that territory has been captured and therefore do not order further offensives.
—Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 16 Jan. 2026
Decades of military offensives, however, have considerably weakened Abu Sayyaf and other such armed groups, and Philippine military and police officials say there has been no recent indication of any foreign militants in the country's south.
—Bradford Betz, FOXNews.com, 16 Dec. 2025
Russian forces are intensifying offensives in Donetsk, expanding long-range strikes on cities and energy infrastructure, and pressing for territorial concessions.
—Amir Daftari, MSNBC Newsweek, 11 Dec. 2025
Troops once used stands of trees or other natural barriers to defend themselves against small offensives.
—Thomas Wright, The Atlantic, 11 Nov. 2025
Israel’s offensives outside Gaza were even more popular.
—Aluf Benn, Foreign Affairs, 10 Nov. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensives
Noun
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Sirens sounded across Israel as a precautionary measure, alerting the public to potential missile attacks, the IDF confirmed.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
28 Feb. 2026
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So far, Iran’s proxies have not carried out retaliatory attacks tied to the strikes against Iran, though that could change.—
Brady Knox,
The Washington Examiner,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The raids mark a dramatic expansion into the activities and records of Carvalho and Kerr, who has filed a claim saying that the now-defunct AllHere owes her $630,000.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Feb. 2026
-
Episodes will explore a world of daring raids, epic battles and empire-building, following legendary figures such as Ragnar Lothbrok, Canute and Harald Hardrada.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
27 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
The attack follows a string of assaults on Jewish people and their religious establishments in the country, as community leaders warn of a rise in antisemitism.—
Chris Lau,
CNN Money,
21 Feb. 2026
-
On-site clinicians, rapid assessments, suicide prevention protocols, and alternatives to isolation help reduce assaults on staff and self-harm by inmates.—
Charlotte Observer,
Charlotte Observer,
20 Feb. 2026
Noun
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Later that year, federal prosecutors in New York charged the company’s former CEO Joanna Smith-Griffin, with securities fraud and related offenses tied to investor deception.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
28 Feb. 2026
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But a month later, Tempe police arrested Tierney outside her Tucson apartment on suspicion of felony computer tampering and lower-level offenses.—
Taylor Seely,
AZCentral.com,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
When will these onslaughts of cold end?—
Doyle Rice,
USA Today,
31 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
If and when such aggressions fully materialize, the United States will lack the moral and ethical authority to credibly object.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
6 Jan. 2026
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Her visits to the controversial Yasukuni Shrine, which its nearest neighbors see as an homage to Japan’s past wartime aggressions, have also angered both of those nations.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
27 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Orbán has frequently threatened to scuttle the bloc’s efforts to sanction Moscow over its invasion, and has decried attempts to hit Russia’s energy revenues that help finance the war.—
Justin Spike,
Los Angeles Times,
23 Feb. 2026
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This absorbing book documents attempts by activists who are part of the Antifa movement to expose and sabotage far-right-wing groups.—
The New Yorker,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
His first two fastballs — strikes at 96 and 97 mph — looked sharp, but command became an issue.—
Haley Smilow,
Mercury News,
22 Feb. 2026
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Russia exponentially increased its strikes on the country's energy system, causing blackouts in Kyiv where power supplies to many were cut to a few hours a day amid bitter cold.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offensives.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensives. Accessed 1 Mar. 2026.
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