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