Meaning of offensive in English
Table of contents
Pronunciation
US accent
UK accent
to browse different examples of pronunciation.Classifying Adjective
offensiveDefinitions
1. violating or tending to violate or offend againstExamples
- « violative of the principles of liberty »
- « considered such depravity offensive against all laws of humanity »
Synonyms
- 2. causing or able to cause nausea
Examples
- « a nauseating smell »
- « nauseous offal »
- « a sickening stench »
Synonyms
Noun
offensiveDefinitions
1. the action of attacking an enemyQualitative Adjective
offensiveEtymology
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 defenseExamples
- « offensive weapons »
Synonyms
- antipersonnel
- assaultive
- attacking(a)
- hit-and-run
- tip-and-run
- incursive
- invading
- invasive
- marauding
- predatory
- raiding
- on the offensive(p)
Antonyms
- 2. causing anger or annoyance
Examples
- « offensive remarks »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 3. morally offensive
Examples
- « an unsavory reputation »
- « an unsavory scandal »
Synonyms
Antonyms
- 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
- 5. of an offensive substitute for inoffensive terminology
Examples
- « 'nigger' is a dysphemistic term for 'African-American' »
Antonyms
Famous quotes
- « We have no patience with other people's vanity because it is offensive to our own. » Francois de La Rochefoucauld
- « I consider skateboarding an art form, a lifestyle and a sport. 'Action sport' would be the least offensive categorization. » Tony Hawk
- « Some people can do things and get away with it. Comics are famously like that. Why is it that some guys can say the most horrible things and it's not offensive, it's funny? » Christopher Walken
- « If either player abandon the game by quitting the table in anger, or in an otherwise offensive manner or by momentarily resigning the game or refuses to abide by the decision of the Umpire, the game must be scored against him. » Howard Staunton
- « We ought to recognize that we have an offensive responsibility to take the war to the terrorists where they are. That responsibility has waned in the last year as military and intelligence resources were withdrawn from Afghanistan and Pakistan to be used in Iraq. » Bob Graham