Dictionary
List of exercises
Exercises by level
Beginner
Intermediate
Advanced
OK
Meaning of offensive in English
Pronunciation
US accent
How to pronounce offensive in American English, in context
▾
Use the controls below
to browse different examples of pronunciation.
UK accent
How to pronounce offensive in British English, in context
▾
Use the controls below
to browse different examples of pronunciation.
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.
causing or able to cause nausea
Examples
« a nauseating smell »
« nauseous offal »
« a sickening stench »
Synonyms
unwholesome
Noun
offensive
Definitions
1.
the action of attacking an enemy
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
2.
causing anger or annoyance
Examples
« offensive remarks »
Synonyms
abusive
insulting
opprobrious
scornful
scurrilous
Antonyms
inoffensive
unoffending
3.
morally offensive
Examples
« an unsavory reputation »
« an unsavory scandal »
Synonyms
odoriferous
Antonyms
savory
savoury
inoffensive
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
5.
of an offensive substitute for inoffensive terminology
Examples
« 'nigger' is a dysphemistic term for 'African-American' »
Antonyms
euphemistic
inoffensive