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
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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
Max Rodenbeck, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
Mere weeks before Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched its decisive offensive against the Assad regime, Ukrainian intelligence sent 20 drone operators along with 150 FPV drones to enhance the group’s capabilities.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 17 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 timely arrival in Washington of a new, even more gung-ho Israel-first administration than Joe Biden's, which bankrolled Netanyahu's Gaza offensive to the tune of $17.9 billion, simply underlines Israel's military dominance.
—Max Rodenbeck, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
Mere weeks before Hayat Tahrir al-Sham launched its decisive offensive against the Assad regime, Ukrainian intelligence sent 20 drone operators along with 150 FPV drones to enhance the group’s capabilities.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes, 17 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for offensive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offensive
Adjective
-
My TikTok really blew up somewhere between my videos taste-testing a really disgusting medication and my series about dating.—
Brooke Eby,
People.com,
23 Jan. 2025
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Billions Of Jellyfish Wash Up On Beach By Jess Thomson Science Reporter 1 A plague of bizarre and disgusting balls that have washed up along popular beaches in Australia have been found to contain fecal bacteria.—
Raul A. Reyes,
Newsweek,
22 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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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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Though no one was ever charged in the attack, FALN, which planted more than 100 bombs in New York City and Chicago during the 1970s and ’80s, proudly claimed responsibility.—
Rocco Parascandola,
New York Daily News,
24 Jan. 2025
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An even more pointed distinction comes when audio of a news report is layered over images of memorials and prayers for the victims of the mosque attack.—
Caryn James,
The Hollywood Reporter,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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This underscores an ugly truth as to why California’s housing is grossly and unnecessarily expensive, and in short supply.—
Steve Forbes,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
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An ugly opt in: If there is no trade by Feb. 6, Butler then regains a degree of leverage with the right to invoke his $52.4 million player option next season.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Greenwashing and intentional misinformation are unacceptable, but silence from the best actors is an even bigger risk.—
Jesper Brodin,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
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In this team, calling in sick for shady reasons is unacceptable.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Noun
-
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
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But 2024 Ohio State had the good fortune to suffer that awful day in the first year of a bigger Playoff.—
Stewart Mandel,
The Athletic,
21 Jan. 2025
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There is one ray of hope for United fans though amid the awful run of results.—
Ben Church,
CNN,
20 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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If a work is too objectionable to perform, don’t perform it.—
Jesse Green,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2025
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Every chatbot's conversations will display values that some user somewhere could find objectionable, and every firm will face challenges in how their AIs answer thorny questions about race, gender, religion, politics and more.—
Scott Rosenberg,
Axios,
8 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near offensive
Cite this Entry
“Offensive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offensive. Accessed 4 Feb. 2025.
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