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
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of offensive
Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Philbin worked with the Indianapolis Colts as an offensive line coach, back with the Packers as an offensive coordinator, and most recently joined Ohio State as an offensive analyst.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
Russia’s ground offensive is crawling forward at tremendous cost in lives and equipment and will not deliver a decisive result.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for offensive 
Adjective
No other Laker consistently found an offensive rhythm.
—Khobi Price, Orange County Register, 6 Nov. 2024
Philbin worked with the Indianapolis Colts as an offensive line coach, back with the Packers as an offensive coordinator, and most recently joined Ohio State as an offensive analyst.
—Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Noun
Israel has renewed its offensive against Hamas in the north in recent weeks, and aid groups are sounding the alarm over dire humanitarian conditions.
—Jon Gambrell, Fortune, 26 Oct. 2024
Russia’s ground offensive is crawling forward at tremendous cost in lives and equipment and will not deliver a decisive result.
—David Hambling, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
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At least Gill thinks that coffee is disgusting too.Brian Moylan, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2024
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Trump is disgusting, unhinged and unfit to represent the United States.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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In this, the second-to-last time Friends would celebrate November’s most gluttonous holiday, Rachel’s obnoxious sister Amy (Christina Applegate) invites herself to Thanksgiving, and the conversation turns to who would get custody of baby Emma if Rachel and Ross died.Brian Boone, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
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Better that than an obnoxious red or orange, in Murray’s opinion.Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 14 Nov. 2024
Noun
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For the most part, Israel’s response to Hamas’s devastating October 7 attack was confined to the Gaza Strip.Carrie A. Lee, Foreign Affairs, 19 Nov. 2024
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Episodes often feature logistically complex armed attacks, guided from afar by the top brass, played by the likes of Kidman, Morgan Freeman, Michael Kelly, Jennifer Ehle, and Bruce McGill.Noel Murray, Vulture, 18 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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George Kittle On the ugly game: Being able to deal with all of that and still come out with a win.Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Nov. 2024
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Poor Sue, who wins the challenge and has to wear that ugly bat signal around her neck.Brian Moylan, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Not holding my breath for Mike Johnson or Elise Stefanik to state the obvious that this is unacceptable, dangerous, & shameful.Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
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An American president who thinks strategically would likely conclude that the risks and costs associated with tariffs-as-a-tactic would be remarkably high, if not unacceptable.Samuel Gregg, National Review, 1 Nov. 2024
Noun
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Thao’s romantic partner, Andre Jones, has also been named in federal subpoenas issued after the raids.Shomik Mukherjee, The Mercury News, 9 Nov. 2024
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Another video claimed Vice President Harris and her husband were paid $500,000 for tipping off P. Diddy about a federal raid of his home, according to NewsGuard.Sam Sabin, Axios, 5 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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For the evening, the stews break out their coral dresses instead of blacks which are pretty awful.Emma Soren, Vulture, 12 Nov. 2024
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Jean Dujardin, the French actor who won an Academy Award for that awful silent-movie spoof The Artist, is almost unrecognizable in On the Wandering Paths (Sur les chemins noirs).Armond White, National Review, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Once the objectionable joke about Harris was spotted, a staffer asked Hinchcliffe to strike it.Martha Ross, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024
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Brand safety refers to employing measures to protect a company's image and reputation, such as ensuring ads don't appear next to objectionable content.Aimee Picchi, CBS News, 5 Sep. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near offensive
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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