Offensive

//əˈfɛnsɪv// adj, noun

adj, noun ·Very common ·Middle school level

Definitions

Noun
  1. 1
    An attack. countable

    "The Marines today launched a major offensive."

  2. 2
    the action of attacking an enemy wordnet
  3. 3
    The posture of attacking or being able to attack. uncountable

    "He took the offensive in the press, accusing his opponent of corruption."

Adjective
  1. 1
    Causing offense; arousing a visceral reaction of disgust, anger, hatred, sadness, or indignation.

    "Some people find pornography offensive."

  2. 2
    Relating to an offense or attack, as opposed to defensive.

    "The army's offensive capabilities. An offensive weapon."

  3. 3
    Having to do with play directed at scoring.

    "The offensive coordinator is responsible for ordering all rushing plays."

Adjective
  1. 1
    unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses wordnet
  2. 2
    morally offensive wordnet
  3. 3
    causing anger or annoyance wordnet
  4. 4
    for the purpose of attack rather than defense wordnet
  5. 5
    violating or tending to violate or offend against wordnet
Show 1 more definition
  1. 6
    causing or able to cause nausea wordnet

Synonyms

All synonyms
aggressivedetestablenauseatingobjectionableoffenseoutrageous

Example

More examples

"The instant I open the lid an offensive smell greets my nose."

Etymology

From Middle French offensif, from offendre + -if by analogy with défensif. Offendre is from Latin offendere (“to offend”); see offend.

Related phrases

charm offensivecounter-offensivecounter-offensivenon-offensiveoffensive and defensive allianceoffensive backoffensive fouloffensive guardoffensive lineoffensive line of scrimmageoffensive tackleoffensive to pious ears

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Data sourced from Wiktionary, WordNet, CMU, and other open linguistic databases. Updated March 2026.