of·fen·sive
ə-ˈfen(t)-siv 
especially for sense 1
ˈä-ˌfen(t)-
ˈȯ-
1
a
: making attack : aggressive
The bear made offensive movements.
b
: of, relating to, or designed for attack
offensive weapons
c
: of or relating to an attempt to score in a game or contest
offensive maneuvers
also
: of or relating to a team in possession of the ball or puck
offensive linemen
3
: causing displeasure or resentment
offensive remarks
offensively
adverb
offensiveness
noun
Synonyms
Adjective
- abhorrent
- abominable
- appalling
- awful
- disgusting
- distasteful
- dreadful
- evil
- foul
- fulsome
- gross
- hideous
- horrendous
- horrible
- horrid
- loathsome
- nasty
- nauseating
- nauseous
- noisome
- noxious
- obnoxious
- obscene
- odious
- rancid
- repellent
- repellant
- repugnant
- repulsive
- revolting
- scandalous
- shocking
- sickening
- ugly
Noun
Examples of offensive in a Sentence
Adjective
He made some offensive remarks.
An offensive odor was coming from the basement.
Noun
the primary offensive by the ground forces will commence at dawn tomorrow
Recent Examples on the Web
Cate Brown, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
How Caitlin Clark's points total compares to the NCAA's best scorers
Of course, a key element of any basketball player's offensive stat line is their assists, too.
—Caitlin Clark, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Some perspective on this offensive collapse: After Jaime Jaquez Jr. hit a free throw to put Miami ahead 100-93 with 7:33 left, the Heat scored just two points over the next seven minutes (on two Butler free throws) before Rozier’s three late.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
UConn had a chance to take the lead, but Aaliyah Edwards was called for an offensive foul while setting a screen with 4.6 seconds left.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Doncic, Dallas’ offensive savant, dropped 30 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Young’s surrounding cast was a disaster last season, and Morgan has gone about fixing that problem by making logical additions to the offensive line and trading for wideout Diontae Johnson.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024
Indiana has boasted one of the best offenses in the league throughout the season and currently holds the second-best offensive rating in the league.
—Sam Joseph, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
The elements played a big role in the offensive explosion.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Within two months, researchers say, the offensive already has wreaked more destruction than the razing of Syria's Aleppo between 2012 and 2016, Ukraine's Mariupol or, proportionally, the Allied bombing of Germany in World War II.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told CBS News in an interview last month that his country was not prepared for a summer offensive by Russia and that the Russian military might reopen a northern front in the war with a ground attack into the Sumy region, which shares a border with Russia.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In the medium term, Israel and the Biden administration have a strategic difference over the prospect of an Israeli offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Israel launched its offensive in retaliation for the Oct. 7 cross-border attack that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
However, the group has become increasingly concerned about the government's qualified support for continued offensives in Gaza — which recently led to the U.S. abstaining from a United Nations Security Council vote on demanding an immediate ceasefire.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Fox News, 29 Mar. 2024
Read more Israel-Hamas war coverage: Recent polling suggests most Jewish Israelis support Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
Israel's military offensive in Gaza in response to the attack has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
Adjective
Of that, roughly $22 million was offensive weapons, including 3,000 portable antitank weapons and 500,000 rounds of ammunition for machine guns, submachine guns, or other fully automatic or semiautomatic firearms.
—Cate Brown, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
How Caitlin Clark's points total compares to the NCAA's best scorers
Of course, a key element of any basketball player's offensive stat line is their assists, too.
—Caitlin Clark, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024
Some perspective on this offensive collapse: After Jaime Jaquez Jr. hit a free throw to put Miami ahead 100-93 with 7:33 left, the Heat scored just two points over the next seven minutes (on two Butler free throws) before Rozier’s three late.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 5 Apr. 2024
UConn had a chance to take the lead, but Aaliyah Edwards was called for an offensive foul while setting a screen with 4.6 seconds left.
—CBS News, 5 Apr. 2024
Doncic, Dallas’ offensive savant, dropped 30 points, 12 rebounds and 11 assists.
—Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Apr. 2024
Young’s surrounding cast was a disaster last season, and Morgan has gone about fixing that problem by making logical additions to the offensive line and trading for wideout Diontae Johnson.
—Mike Kaye, Charlotte Observer, 25 Mar. 2024
Indiana has boasted one of the best offenses in the league throughout the season and currently holds the second-best offensive rating in the league.
—Sam Joseph, CNN, 25 Mar. 2024
The elements played a big role in the offensive explosion.
—Joseph Dycus, The Mercury News, 23 Mar. 2024
Noun
And while the charm offensive wasn’t always effective, Abe’s approach helped quell concerns about managing the unpredictable U.S. leader, said Tobias Harris, an expert on Japanese politics and an Abe biographer.
—Michelle Ye Hee Lee, Washington Post, 6 Apr. 2024
Within two months, researchers say, the offensive already has wreaked more destruction than the razing of Syria's Aleppo between 2012 and 2016, Ukraine's Mariupol or, proportionally, the Allied bombing of Germany in World War II.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 5 Apr. 2024
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine told CBS News in an interview last month that his country was not prepared for a summer offensive by Russia and that the Russian military might reopen a northern front in the war with a ground attack into the Sumy region, which shares a border with Russia.
—Andrew E. Kramer, New York Times, 5 Apr. 2024
In the medium term, Israel and the Biden administration have a strategic difference over the prospect of an Israeli offensive against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
—Hussein Ibish, The Atlantic, 5 Apr. 2024
Israel launched its offensive in retaliation for the Oct. 7 cross-border attack that killed around 1,200 people in southern Israel.
—Tracy Wilkinson, Los Angeles Times, 3 Apr. 2024
However, the group has become increasingly concerned about the government's qualified support for continued offensives in Gaza — which recently led to the U.S. abstaining from a United Nations Security Council vote on demanding an immediate ceasefire.
—Timothy Nerozzi, Fox News, 29 Mar. 2024
Read more Israel-Hamas war coverage: Recent polling suggests most Jewish Israelis support Israel’s offensive in Gaza.
—Elizabeth Robinson, NBC News, 29 Mar. 2024
Israel's military offensive in Gaza in response to the attack has killed more than 32,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Ministry of Health.
—Michele Kelemen, NPR, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'offensive.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Adjective
borrowed from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French offensif, borrowed from Medieval Latin offensīvus "used for attacking, causing injury," from Latin offensus, past participle of offendere "to strike against, break a rule, offend" + -īvus -ive
Noun
derivative of offensive entry 1
Phrases Containing offensive
Dictionary Entries Near offensive
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offensive. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
offensive
1 of 2 adjective
of·fen·sive
ə-ˈfen(t)-siv
1
a
: relating to or made or suited for attack
offensive weapons
b
: of or relating to the attempt to score in a game or contest
the offensive team
2
: causing painful or unpleasant sensations
an offensive smell
3
: causing displeasure or resentment
an offensive remark
offensively
adverb
offensiveness
noun
offensive
2 of 2 noun1
: the state or attitude of one who is making an attack
on the offensive
Legal Definition
offensive
adjective
of·fen·sive
ə-ˈfen-siv
1
: of, relating to, or designed for attack
offensive weapons
2
: causing displeasure or resentment
especially
: contrary to a particular or prevailing sense of what is decent, proper, or moral
depicted sexual acts in a patently offensive way
see also obscene
offensively
adverb
offensiveness
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on offensive
Nglish: Translation of offensive for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of offensive for Arabic Speakers
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