The instant I open the lid an offensive smell greets my nose.
Source: tatoeba (28573)
Offensive
/əˈfɛnsɪv/
Synonyms for "offensive" (421 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (85)
abhorrentabominableabusiveaggravated assaultaggressionaggressiveamphibious attackantagonisticappallingarmed assaultarrantassailingassailmentassaultatrociousattackattackingawfulbackhandbackhanded
Show 49 more words
badbad-smellingbanzai attackbarfybasebattlingbawdybeastlybellicosebelligerentbelow contemptbeneath contemptbitterblameworthyblitzblitzkriegbloodthirstybloodybloody mindedbloody-mindedblueboorishbrackishbreakthroughbrutalcaddishcalumniouschargechauvinistchauvinisticchintzycloyingcoarsecombativecontemptiblecontentiouscontumeliouscounterattackcounteroffensivecoup de maincrippling attackcrudedamnabledead set atdegradingdeplorablederogatorydescent ondespicable
Adjective(8 words)
Verb(2 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Strong matches (126)
detestablediredirtydisagreeablediscourteousdisgustingdispleasingdisrespectfuldistastefuldiversiondiversionary attackdreadfuldriveegregiousenemyenormousevilexecrablefecalferocious
Show 91 more words
fescenninefetidfiercefightingfilthyflagrantflank attackforbiddingfoulfoul mouthedfoul tonguedfoul-mouthedfoul-spokenfoul-tonguedfrightfulfrontal attackfrowstyfrowyfrowzyfull of fightfulsomefunkyfustygamygas attackghastlygratinggraveolentgrievousgrimgrislygrossgruesomehatefulhawkishhead-on attackheinoushideoushighhorriblehorridhostilehumiliatingickyignobleill-bredill-smellingimpertinentimpoliteimproperimpudentimpurein bad tasteinappropriateinconsiderateindecentindecorousindelicateinelegantinfamousinfiltrationinimicalinjuriousinsensitiveinsolentinsultinginvasionithyphallicjingojingoishjingoistjingoisticlamentablelasciviousleft handedleft-handedlewdlightning attacklightning warloathsomeloudlousyloutishloutyluridmaggotymalodorousmartialmass attackmawkishmegadeath
Adjective(12 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Related words (210)
mephiticmiasmalmiasmicmildewedmildewymilitantmilitaristicmilitarymoldymonstrousmuggingmustynastynaughtynauseantnauseatingnauseousnefariousnidorousnoisome
Show 146 more words
notoriousnoxiousobjectionableobnoxiousobsceneodiousodorousoffenseolidon the offensiveonsetonslaughtoutrageousoverkilloverripepanzer warfarepersonalpitiablepitifulpoisonouspornographicprovocativepugnaciouspushpushyputrescentputridquarrelsomerabelaisianrancidrankraunchyreastyreasyrebarbativereechyreekingreekyregrettablerepellentrepellingreprehensiblerepugnantrepulsiverevoltingribaldrottenruderun againstrun atrushsaber-rattlingsadsalacioussallysanguinarysanguineoussavagescandalousschlockscrappyscurrilescurrilousscurvyshabbyshamefulshock tacticsshockingshoddysickeningsmellfulsmellingsmellysmoking-roomsmuttysoldierlikesoldierlysordidsortiespicyspoiledsqualidstenchystinkingstrikestrongstuffysuggestivesulfuroussultrytactlesstastelessterriblethreateningtoo badtrigger happytrigger-happytruculentuglyunappetizingunbecomingunbeseemingunchasteunciviluncleanuncongenialundesirableundignifiedunfeminineunfittingunfriendlyungenteelungentleungentlemanlyungratefulunladylikeunmannerlyunpacificunpalatableunpeaceableunpeacefulunpleasantunprintableunprovoked assaultunrefinedunrepeatableunsavoryunseemlyunsolicitousunspeakableunsuitableuntastefulunwholesomevilevillainousvomityvulgarwarlikewarmongeringwarringweevilywoefulworstworthlesswretchedyucky
Noun(14 words)
Adjective(26 words)
militaristicmilitary advancemilitary campaignnastiernauseatingnauseousnoisomeobnoxiouspejorative epithetprovocativeprovocative wordingqueasyreprehensiblerepulsive conductrepulsive forceruderudersickeningsmellyspastic
Determiner(1 words)
most slurring
Verb(2 words)
Adjective(1 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abhorrent, abominable, abusive, abusive conduct, abusive language.
- Sentence evidence is available for offensive, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from moby, derived_reverse, wiktionary, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "offensive".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "offensive"
Keep "offensive" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "offensive" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "offensive", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "offensive" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
11 entriescombat descriptordescriptorethical descriptionmilitary operationmilitary termmoral judgmentnegative qualityolfactory descriptoroperationsensory property
More specific
14 entriesCollocations
6 entriesmajor offensivemilitary offensiveoffensive campaignoffensive maneuveroffensive operationoffensive strategy
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
2 entriesAntonyms
2 entriessimilar
58 entriesShowing 16 of 58 words.
Sample sentences
22 total sentences available.
We recoiled from the enemy's offensive.
Source: tatoeba (28769)
I find just the memory of his overly polite patronizing manner really offensive.
Source: tatoeba (72024)
I hear a noise offensive to the ear.
Source: tatoeba (264411)
Showing 4 of 22 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "offensive"?
Closest matches include abhorrent, abominable, abusive, abusive conduct, abusive language.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "offensive"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.