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
Relevance
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
Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
Crash the glass: Baylor ranks No. 21 in offensive rebounding percentage (36.6).
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 1 Feb. 2025
Maha Nassar, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2025
Business executives and former officials are hopeful President Trump will act fast to name senior cyber leaders, lean hard into cyber offensives, and implement policies to advance AI cyber tools.
—Sam Sabin, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for offensive 
Adjective
His no-nonsense ability to run the offense and direct the various offensive pieces propelled the Titans on a 14-0 run in the third quarter that broke that game open.
—Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 1 Feb. 2025
Crash the glass: Baylor ranks No. 21 in offensive rebounding percentage (36.6).
—Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 1 Feb. 2025
Noun
The latest offensive could well surpass that death toll, with at least 10 killed in the first day of fighting.
—Maha Nassar, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2025
Business executives and former officials are hopeful President Trump will act fast to name senior cyber leaders, lean hard into cyber offensives, and implement policies to advance AI cyber tools.
—Sam Sabin, Axios, 21 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
The Daily Show’s Gross-out Prop Comedy The news is surreal, disgusting, and upsetting.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2025
-
What a horrible woman to launch such a disgusting smear against family.—
Jonathan Granoff,
Newsweek,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The show’s graphic designer Tansy Michaud designed the cover, which, with its garish red-and-yellow cover and text about self-actualization, was meant to be a little graphically obnoxious.—
Jackson McHenry,
Vulture,
17 Jan. 2025
-
But existing alarm watches are really loud and obnoxious.—
Victoria Gomelsky,
Robb Report,
13 Jan. 2025
Noun
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How rare are attacks like these? School shootings are rare, but Sweden – long associated with high living standards and a strong social safety net – has seen a surge in violent crime in recent years, driven in part by gang warfare.—
Henrik Pettersson,
CNN,
5 Feb. 2025
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Torelli plays Addy Frost, an exploration influencer who returns to the Devil’s Triangle 13 years after witnessing her father’s death in a shark attack.—
Scott Roxborough,
The Hollywood Reporter,
5 Feb. 2025
Adjective
-
Also: Her ugly drag face at the start of the competition has apparently freed her up to do character paints in the challenges that the other girls aren’t touching.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2025
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The star of The Rookie took to Instagram to share the good, bad, and ugly parts of welcoming her third child, daughter Rhiannon.—
Melissa Willets,
Parents,
28 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Nissan's board has decided that Honda’s terms for a merger are unacceptable, according to the Wall Street Journal.—
Anthony Robledo,
USA TODAY,
6 Feb. 2025
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White explained that the UFC had informed Mitchell that his comments were unacceptable.—
Sam Gillette,
People.com,
5 Feb. 2025
Noun
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In the end, the police raid a facility used as a base for the Slide organization.—
Isabella Wandermurem,
TIME,
31 Jan. 2025
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While the focus of President Donald Trump's immigration policies has been on enforcement raids across the country and his executive orders, House Republicans have introduced at least six bills aimed at immigration reform.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Gigi Rodriguez The impact of affirming parents Spencer: That's awful.—
Spencer Macnaughton,
Them,
1 Feb. 2025
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Finally, there’s an interminably long Golden Girls sketch with Acacia (who is fine but not actually funny) and Lydia (who is awful).—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This is what the theologian Martin Buber found so objectionable.—
Arthur Krystal,
The New Yorker,
27 Jan. 2025
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Powerless to stop the farms State rules require hog farms and a tiny number of poultry farms — those using liquid waste management systems — to take steps to control objectionable odors.—
Ames Alexander,
Charlotte Observer,
26 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near offensive
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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