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Meaning of offensive in English

  1. Pronunciation

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  1. Classifying Adjective

    offensive

    Definitions

    1. violating or tending to violate or offend against

    Examples

    • « violative of the principles of liberty »
    • « considered such depravity offensive against all laws of humanity »

    Synonyms

    • offending
  2. 2. causing or able to cause nausea

    Examples

    • « a nauseating smell »
    • « nauseous offal »
    • « a sickening stench »

    Synonyms

    • unwholesome
  3. Noun

    offensive

    Definitions

    1. the action of attacking an enemy
  4. Qualitative Adjective

    offensive

    Etymology

    mid 16th century: from French offensif, -ive or medieval Latin offensivus, from Latin offens-‘struck against’, from the verb offendere (see offend)

    Definitions

    1. for the purpose of attack rather than defense

    Examples

    • « offensive weapons »

    Synonyms

    • antipersonnel
    • assaultive
    • attacking(a)
    • hit-and-run
    • tip-and-run
    • incursive
    • invading
    • invasive
    • marauding
    • predatory
    • raiding
    • on the offensive(p)

    Antonyms

    • defensive
  5. 2. causing anger or annoyance

    Examples

    • « offensive remarks »

    Synonyms

    • abusive
    • insulting
    • opprobrious
    • scornful
    • scurrilous

    Antonyms

    • inoffensive
    • unoffending
  6. 3. morally offensive

    Examples

    • « an unsavory reputation »
    • « an unsavory scandal »

    Synonyms

    • odoriferous

    Antonyms

    • savory
    • savoury
    • inoffensive
  7. 4. unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses

    Examples

    • « offensive odors »

    Synonyms

    • abhorrent
    • detestable
    • obscene
    • repugnant
    • repulsive
    • charnel
    • ghastly
    • sepulchral
    • creepy
    • disgusting
    • disgustful
    • distasteful
    • foul
    • loathly
    • loathsome
    • repellent
    • repellant
    • repelling
    • revolting
    • skanky
    • wicked
    • yucky
    • ghoulish
    • morbid
    • hideous
    • horrid
    • horrific
    • outrageous
    • objectionable
    • obnoxious
    • unpleasant
    • rank
    • scrimy
    • verminous

    Antonyms

    • inoffensive
  8. 5. of an offensive substitute for inoffensive terminology

    Examples

    • « 'nigger' is a dysphemistic term for 'African-American' »

    Antonyms

    • euphemistic
    • inoffensive

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