1
as in disgusting
causing intense displeasure, disgust, or resentment
I find your disrespectful attitude toward religion very offensive the smell of rotting food is quite offensive
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in obnoxious
provoking or likely to provoke protest
insensitive, offensive remarks about the plight of the homeless
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in attack
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offensive
Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
This record offensive effort came a year after the league’s annual exhibition game was a competitive contest that pitted the U.S Olympic team against WNBA All-Stars.
—Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
The hunger alert and the new death toll are grim milestones in a conflict that began almost two years ago when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking an offensive that has laid waste to much of the enclave and ignited hostilities across the region.
—USA Today, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Adjective
However, the entire starting staff could benefit from more offensive production.
—Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 30 July 2025
This record offensive effort came a year after the league’s annual exhibition game was a competitive contest that pitted the U.S Olympic team against WNBA All-Stars.
—Doug Feinberg, Chicago Tribune, 20 July 2025
Noun
Israel’s retaliatory offensive has killed more than 59,800 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.
—Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 28 July 2025
The hunger alert and the new death toll are grim milestones in a conflict that began almost two years ago when Hamas attacked Israel, sparking an offensive that has laid waste to much of the enclave and ignited hostilities across the region.
—USA Today, 28 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
That being cold is cool and being hot with a side of humidity is rather disgusting.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
16 July 2025
-
Nearly 200 pounds of disgusting mats and fur was removed, which equates to an average of 1.5 pounds per dog.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
16 July 2025
Adjective
-
Advertisement Advertisement Homer auditions for the voice of the obnoxious canine and lands the gig.—
Keith Murphy,
Time,
24 July 2025
-
She’s caught between her perfect match Harry (Pedro Pascal) and her obnoxious ex-boyfriend John (Chris Evans).—
Rudie Obias,
HollywoodReporter,
23 July 2025
Noun
-
The restaurant was a favorite hangout of the Gilbert Goons and the site of seven parking lot attacks, according to beating videos, interviews and police records.—
Perry Vandell,
AZCentral.com,
24 July 2025
-
Waves of Iranian missile and drone attacks on Israel have tested the mettle of that country's Iron Dome.—
Stephen Clark,
ArsTechnica,
23 July 2025
Adjective
-
In 1965 Martin got into an ugly battle with President Lyndon B. Johnson.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes.com,
21 July 2025
-
In 1996, Cantor died, and Lutnick, after an ugly succession battle with Cantor’s widow, Iris, took control.—
Antonia Hitchens,
New Yorker,
21 July 2025
Adjective
-
In his short stint in Scranton, that number has come down a hair, but still resides at an unacceptable 29.4%.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 July 2025
-
Republicans were more evenly split, with 38% calling it unacceptable and 32% labeling it as acceptable.—
Brendan Rascius,
Miami Herald,
22 July 2025
Noun
-
As attacks on immigrants are rising, local economies are weakening, with the fear of immigration raids keeping people home.—
Orianna Rosa Royle,
Fortune,
30 July 2025
-
Juggling video calls with his boss (Clark Gregg) and Agent Jeffries (Andrea Savage) in the field, Will tracks Disruptor’s signal, shares the location with his colleagues and monitors the raid in real time.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
That said, The Magician of Tiger Castle did initially start out as a YA romcom about Princess Tullia escaping her betrothal to the neighboring kingdom’s awful prince.—
Natalie Zutter
August 1,
Literary Hub,
1 Aug. 2025
-
The first breach was awful: humiliating for the women who had to see their images passed around, and grim given the number of men making fun of those images with such open, gleeful cruelty.—
Faith Hill,
The Atlantic,
30 July 2025
Adjective
-
Ryan MacDonald, chief technology officer at Liquid Web, attributes the disturbing, confusing and objectionable content to guardrails not properly built or updated.—
Bryan Robinson,
Forbes.com,
3 July 2025
-
After some back-and-forth posts over the weekend, Moreland accused Bryan of inappropriate and objectionable behavior.—
Audrey Gibbs,
The Tennessean,
2 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 5 Aug. 2025.
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