offensive

[ uh-fen-siv aw-fen-, of-en- ]

adjective

1. causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying:

   offensive television commercials.

   Synonyms: unpleasant, vexatious

   Antonyms: pleasing

2. unpleasant or disagreeable to the sense:

   an offensive odor.

   Synonyms: repellent, revolting, disgusting, distasteful

   Antonyms: pleasing

3. repugnant to the moral sense, good taste, or the like; insulting:

   an offensive remark; an offensive joke.

   Synonyms: disgusting, distasteful, shocking, repulsive, repellent, revolting

4. pertaining to offense or attack:

   the offensive movements of their troops.

   Antonyms: defensive

5. characterized by attack; aggressive:

   offensive warfare.

noun

1. the position or attitude of aggression or attack:

   to take the offensive.

2. an aggressive movement or attack:

   a carefully planned naval offensive.

offensive

/ əˈfɛnsɪv /

adjective

1. unpleasant or disgusting, as to the senses
2. causing anger or annoyance; insulting
3. for the purpose of attack rather than defence

noun

1. the offensive
   an attitude or position of aggression
2. an assault, attack, or military initiative, esp a strategic one

Usage Note

The label Offensive is used in this dictionary to indicate that a particular term or definition is likely to be perceived as insulting by a listener or reader—an affront to that particular individual or to an entire group of like individuals—whether or not an offense was intended. Offensive is often paired with the label Disparaging, which is used to indicate that those people who use the offensive term do so to offend intentionally.

Derived Forms

• ofˈfensiveness, noun
• ofˈfensively, adverb

Other Words From

• of·fensive·ly adverb
• of·fensive·ness noun
• nonof·fensive adjective
• nonof·fensive·ly adverb
• nonof·fensive·ness noun
• over·of·fensive adjective
• over·of·fensive·ly adverb
• over·of·fensive·ness noun
• preof·fensive adjective
• preof·fensive·ly adverb
• preof·fensive·ness noun
• quasi-of·fensive adjective
• quasi-of·fensive·ly adverb
• super·of·fensive adjective noun
• super·of·fensive·ly adverb
• super·of·fensive·ness noun
• unof·fensive adjective
• unof·fensive·ly adverb
• unof·fensive·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of offensive¹

First recorded in 1540–50; from Medieval Latin offēnsīvus, from Latin offēns(us) “struck against” (past participle of offendere “to strike against, displease”; offend ) + -īvus -ive

Synonym Study

See hateful.

Example Sentences

They didn’t commit their first turnover until there was nine minutes and 22 seconds left in the second quarter, and that was on an offensive foul called against center Mo Bamba.

From Los Angeles Times

His son, Noah, just completed his senior season while starting on the offensive line, so he said it was a good time to step down and focus on being the school’s athletic director.

From Los Angeles Times

Lincoln Riley has struggled through his USC tenure, but pro football executives see a path for him to be an NFL head coach or offensive coordinator.

From Los Angeles Times

“The bottom line is, he’s a wonderful offensive mind,” Neuheisel said.

From Los Angeles Times

Israel has insisted throughout the war that the Gaza offensive, which has killed about 44,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials, has been conducted in line with international law.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• abhorrent
• abusive
• annoying
• distasteful
• embarrassing
• horrible
• irritating
• objectionable
• obnoxious
• outrageous
• reprehensible
• repugnant
• repulsive
• rude
• shocking