offensive
Use Offensive in a sentence
sɪv adjective
1.
causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating, angering, or annoying: offensive television commercials.
2.
unpleasant or disagreeable to the sense: an offensive odor.
3.
repugnant to the moral sense, good taste, or the like; insulting: an offensive remark; an offensive joke.
4.
pertaining to offense or attack: the offensive movements of their troops.
5.
characterized by attack; aggressive: offensive warfare.
noun
6.
the position or attitude of aggression or attack: to take the offensive.
7.
an aggressive movement or attack: a carefully planned naval offensive.
00:10
Offensive
is always a great word to know.
So is slumgullion. Does it mean:
| a stew of meat, vegetables, potatoes, etc. |
| a fool or simpleton; ninny. |
Origin:
1540–50; < Medieval Latin offēnsīvus, equivalent to Latin offēns(us) past participle of offendere (see offend) + -īvus -ive
1540–50; < Medieval Latin offēnsīvus, equivalent to Latin offēns(us) past participle of offendere (see offend) + -īvus -ive
Related forms
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
Synonyms
1. displeasing, vexatious, vexing, unpleasant. See hateful. 2, 3. distasteful, disgusting, revolting, repellent. 3. repulsive, shocking. 4. invading, attacking.
1. displeasing, vexatious, vexing, unpleasant. See hateful. 2, 3. distasteful, disgusting, revolting, repellent. 3. repulsive, shocking. 4. invading, attacking.
Antonyms
1, 2. pleasing. 4. defensive.
1, 2. pleasing. 4. defensive.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
Cite This Source
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Link To offensive
Collins
World English Dictionary
offensive (əˈfɛnsɪv) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —adj | |
| 1. | unpleasant or disgusting, as to the senses |
| 2. | causing anger or annoyance; insulting |
| 3. | for the purpose of attack rather than defence |
| —n | |
| 4. | the offensive an attitude or position of aggression |
| 5. | an assault, attack, or military initiative, esp a strategic one |
| of'fensively | |
| —adv | |
| of'fensiveness | |
| —n | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
Cite This Source
Etymonline
Word Origin & History
offensive
"attacking" (1547), "insulting" (1576), both from M.Fr. offensif (fem. offensive), from M.L. offensivus, from L. offensus, pp. of offendere "offend" (see offend). The noun is 1720 from the adj.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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Cite This Source
Example sentences
But if you have a risotto hankering and not much time, take the offensive.
Whatever the subject, he had a view, usually offensive to one party or another.
But many governments quickly found ways to block content they deemed offensive.
There is something particularly offensive to me in the forging of academic credentials.
Nearby Words
Synonyms
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