offensive
adjective
, especially for sense 1 ˈä-ˌfen(t)-, ˈȯ-
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Definition of offensive
(Entry 1 of 2)
offensive
nounDefinition of offensive (Entry 2 of 2)
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Synonyms & Antonyms for offensive
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 (also repellant), repugnant, repulsive, revolting, scandalous, shocking, sickening, ugly
Synonyms: Noun
aggression, assault, attack, attempt, blitz, blitzkrieg, charge, coup de main, descent, offense (or offence), onset, onslaught, raid, rush, strike
Antonyms: Adjective
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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: Adjective
Jimmy Lay Muscle Shoals 62, Columbia 0 Muscle Shoals’ offensive starters played only four snaps, as the Trojans ran away with a victory. — Al.com Reports, al, "Huntsville HS football: Randolph scores in final minute, Muscle Shoals wins big," 7 Sep. 2019 Among them were Anthony Munoz, a former Bengals offensive lineman, and Reds Hall of Fame first baseman Tony Perez, who was a member of the Big Red Machine teams of the 1970s. — Luke Feliciano, Cincinnati.com, "Take a gamble: Hollywood Casino helps usher in a new era for Indiana sports betting," 7 Sep. 2019 The offensive lineman hasn't missed a start in four seasons. — Jr Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "These former Wisconsin Badgers are all on NFL rosters as the season nears its kickoff," 3 Sep. 2019 The only Raiders player to be claimed was offensive tackle Justin Murray by the Arizona Cardinals. — Jerry Mcdonald, The Mercury News, "‘Hard Knocks’ star Keelan Doss to sign with Jacksonville practice squad," 1 Sep. 2019 With eight offensive starters back from a team that went 9–4, Marshall won’t be a pushover, but a trip to Albertsons Stadium is never easy. — Molly Geary, SI.com, "Your Guide to 2019's Friday Night College Football Schedule," 30 Aug. 2019 Tulsa returns two offensive line starters from a group that helped Shamari Brooks and Corey Taylor II both land on the 2019 preseason Doak Walker Award watch list. — Chris Solari, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan State football: 3 story lines to watch vs. Tulsa Golden Hurricane," 26 Aug. 2019 Two of the new offensive line starters were U.S. Army All-Americans in high school, including the only five-star prospect in Rivals’ rankings to ever sign with Kentucky. — Jon Hale, The Courier-Journal, "Still doubt Kentucky football after its 2018 season? They're working to prove you wrong," 23 Aug. 2019 This year, Virginia — which is coming off an 8-5 season and returns six offensive starters — is the preseason favorite to win the Coastal Division. — Christy Cabrera Chirinos, sun-sentinel.com, "UM 2019 football playbook: Players to watch, crucial games and keys to the season," 22 Aug. 2019Recent Examples on the Web: Noun
Wendy’s and others went on the offensive to try and claim a bit of online territory in the battlefield known as social media. — Patrick May, The Mercury News, "Are you Team Popeyes or Team Chick-Fil-A? #ChickenWars rages online," 23 Aug. 2019 Syrian troops have been on the offensive in Idlib and nearby areas since April 30, forcing more than half a million people to flee their homes and leaving more than 2,000 people dead, including hundreds of civilians. — SFChronicle.com, "Syrian government opens corridor for civilians in rebel area," 22 Aug. 2019 Going on the offensive and then retreating on busing made Harris seem inauthentic. — John Mccormack, National Review, "Why Kamala Harris Is Fading in the Democratic Primary," 21 Aug. 2019 Syrian government forces have been on the offensive in Idlib and northern parts of Hama province since April 30, forcing nearly half a million people to flee towards the Turkish border. — NBC News, "Militants pull out of key town in Idlib as Russian-backed Syrian troops press on," 20 Aug. 2019 Syrian troops have been on the offensive in Idlib and its surroundings since April 30. — Suzan Fraser, BostonGlobe.com, "Turkey says airstrikes targeted Turkish army convoy in Syria," 19 Aug. 2019 Chandler and Monica use this episode to finally admit their commitment to each other, but not before Phoebe attempts to break him by turning on the charm offensive. — Whitney Friedlander, CNN, "The 25 most relatable 'Friends' episodes as the show turns 25," 16 Aug. 2019 Always on the offensive, the French focused their forces on two key points on the front: The two farms that the allies had fortified, Hougoumont and La Haye Sainte. — National Geographic, "Napoleon lost the Battle of Waterloo—here’s what went wrong," 15 Aug. 2019 Following a sluggish start, Komatineni went on the offensive against Lofgren, tying the set at four games apiece after collecting four straight points. — Luke Feliciano, Cincinnati.com, "In his first-ever appearance, Niraj Komatineni wins 2019 Cincinnati Met singles tournament," 24 July 2019These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'offensive.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.