offensive

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adjective

of·fen·sive ə-ˈfen(t)-siv

especially for sense 1

ˈä-ˌfen(t)-

ˈȯ-

Synonyms of offensive next

: making attack : aggressive

The bear made offensive movements.

: of, relating to, or designed for attack

offensive weapons

: 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

: giving painful or unpleasant sensations : nauseous, obnoxious

an offensive odor

: causing displeasure or resentment

offensive remarks

offensively adverb

offensiveness noun

offensive

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Example Sentences

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

Adjective

Worlds Apart got somewhat hijacked by an assault of offensive comments to and about women by some of the male characters. —

Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 May 2023 One of the most gifted offensive basketball players in the world vs. one of the best defending big men in the world. —

Jeff Zillgitt, USA TODAY, 17 May 2023 Coordinator Todd Monken has the type of offensive presence the Ravens haven’t had since Gary Kubiak led the unit in 2014. —

Mike Preston, Baltimore Sun, 17 May 2023 After not homering in their three previous games, the Red Sox broke out of their offensive slump to erupt for 11 hits, including three home runs, to post a 9-4 win over the Mariners Tuesday. —

Andrew Mahoney, BostonGlobe.com, 17 May 2023 In the meantime, several users on Twitter blamed trolls for spamming the account with offensive posts. —

Chris Gardner, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2023 Mark Tucker has been the offensive line coach since the school's beginnings, when John Wrenn was head coach in 1999 to now with Mike Zdebski, getting the Huskies back to where they're used to being - in the spotlight, drawing college recruiters and vying for championships. —

Richard Obert, The Arizona Republic, 16 May 2023 The Lions signed three draft picks last week before the start of rookie minicamp: Third-round quarterback Hendon Hooker (No. 68 overall), fifth-round offensive guard Colby Sorsdal (No. 152) and seventh-round receiver Antoine Green (No. 219). —

Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 15 May 2023 Yes, the most offensive word in the English language is having quite a moment — especially online. —

David Mack, Rolling Stone, 15 May 2023

Noun

Ukrainian officials have said their offensive has not started. —

Nick Parker, Washington Post, 13 May 2023 Putin's speech came the same day a key mercenary leader warned Russian troops could be ill-prepared for a Ukrainian military offensive and that Russia does not deserve to win the war. —

John Bacon, USA TODAY, 9 May 2023 Some found the pledge offensive because the coronation carries a hefty price tag amid inflation and a cost of living crisis in the United Kingdom, Euro News reported. —

Conor Murray, Forbes, 5 May 2023 That will certainly help the Ukrainians gear up, but even Abrams tanks, on an accelerated pace from initial projections, are not expected to make it to Ukraine for the beginning of the offensive. —

John Ismay, New York Times, 22 Apr. 2023 Ukraine’s spring offensive already faces high stakes. —

David Lauter, Los Angeles Times, 19 Apr. 2023 The offensive is part of a plan by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva to pivot toward protection in the Amazon, after years of rapid destruction under the administration of Jair Bolsonaro. —

Ana Ionova, The Christian Science Monitor, 17 Apr. 2023 That suggests the Russians expect any Ukrainian offensive to target that region. —

Tim Lister, CNN, 16 Apr. 2023 Ukraine hit a Russian military base in the occupied south, officials said, the latest in a series of strikes to target a key Russian supply route to Crimea as Kyiv is gearing up for a spring offensive. —

James Marson, wsj.com, 7 Apr. 2023 See More

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

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1564, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

1687, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of offensive was circa 1564

See more words from the same year