offensive
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of·fen·sive
(ə-fĕn′sĭv)adj.
1.
a. Causing anger, displeasure, or resentment: an offensive gesture.
b. Disagreeable to the senses: an offensive odor.
2.
a. Making a physical or military attack: The offensive troops gained ground quickly.
b. Of, relating to, or designed for attack: offensive weapons.
3. (ŏf′ĕn-) Sports Of or relating to a team having possession of a ball or puck: an offensive rush.
n.
1. An attitude or position of attack: go on the offensive in chess.
2. A physical or military attack or assault: led a massive military offensive.
of·fen′sive·ly adv.
of·fen′sive·ness n.
Synonyms: offensive, disgusting, loathsome, nasty, odious, repellent, repulsive, revolting, vile
These adjectives mean extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings: an offensive remark; disgusting language; a loathsome disease; a nasty smell; an odious sight; a repellent demand; repulsive behavior; revolting food; vile thoughts. See Also Synonyms at hateful.
These adjectives mean extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings: an offensive remark; disgusting language; a loathsome disease; a nasty smell; an odious sight; a repellent demand; repulsive behavior; revolting food; vile thoughts. See Also Synonyms at hateful.
American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
offensive
(əˈfɛnsɪv)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. (Military) an assault, attack, or military initiative, esp a strategic one
ofˈfensively adv
ofˈfensiveness n
Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014
of•fen•sive
(əˈfɛn sɪv or, for 4,5, ˈɔ fɛn-, ˈɒf ɛn-)adj.
1. causing resentful displeasure; highly irritating or annoying.
2. unpleasant or disagreeable to the sense; disgusting.
3. repugnant to the moral sense, good taste, or the like; repulsive.
4. pertaining to offense or attack.
5. characterized by attack; aggressive: offensive warfare.
n. 6. the position or attitude of aggression or attack: to take the offensive.
7. an aggressive movement or attack.
[1540–50; < Medieval Latin offēnsīvus]
of•fen′sive•ly, adv.
of•fen′sive•ness, n.
syn: See hateful.
Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
Switch to new thesaurus
Noun | 1. | offensive - the action of attacking an enemy military operation, operation - activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign); "it was a joint operation of the navy and air force" counteroffensive - a large scale offensive (more than a counterattack) undertaken by a defending force to seize the initiative from an attacking force dirty war - an offensive conducted by secret police or the military of a regime against revolutionary and terrorist insurgents and marked by the use of kidnapping and torture and murder with civilians often being the victims; "thousands of people disappeared and were killed during Argentina's dirty war in the late 1970s" |
Adj. | 1. | offensive - violating or tending to violate or offend against; "violative of the principles of liberty"; "considered such depravity offensive against all laws of humanity" offending - offending against or breaking a law or rule; "contracts offending against the statute were canceled" |
2. | offensive - for the purpose of attack rather than defense; "offensive weapons" aggressive - having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends; "an aggressive businessman"; "an aggressive basketball player"; "he was aggressive and imperious; positive in his convictions"; "aggressive drivers" hostile - characterized by enmity or ill will; "a hostile nation"; "a hostile remark"; "hostile actions" defensive - intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance" | |
3. | offensive - causing anger or annoyance; "offensive remarks" harmful - causing or capable of causing harm; "too much sun is harmful to the skin"; "harmful effects of smoking" disrespectful - exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous; "remarks disrespectful of the law"; "disrespectful in the presence of his parents"; "disrespectful toward his teacher" inoffensive, unoffending - not causing anger or annoyance; "inoffensive behavior" | |
4. | offensive - morally offensive; "an unsavory reputation"; "an unsavory scandal" | |
5. | offensive - unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses; "offensive odors" evil - morally bad or wrong; "evil purposes"; "an evil influence"; "evil deeds" hateful - evoking or deserving hatred; "no vice is universally as hateful as ingratitude"- Joseph Priestly unpalatable - not pleasant or acceptable to the taste or mind; "an unpalatable meal"; "unpalatable truths"; "unpalatable behavior" unpleasant - disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings ; "an unpleasant personality"; "unpleasant repercussions"; "unpleasant odors" inoffensive - giving no offense; "a quiet inoffensive man"; "a refreshing inoffensive stimulant" | |
6. | offensive - substitute a harsher or distasteful term for a mild one | |
7. | offensive - causing or able to cause nausea; "a nauseating smell"; "nauseous offal"; "a sickening stench" unwholesome - detrimental to physical or moral well-being; "unwholesome food"; "unwholesome habits like smoking" |
Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.
offensive
adjective
1. insulting, rude, abusive, embarrassing, slighting, annoying, irritating, degrading, affronting, contemptuous, disparaging, displeasing, objectionable, disrespectful, scurrilous, detestable, discourteous, uncivil, unmannerly offensive remarks about minority groups
insulting civil, polite, conciliatory, respectful, courteous, deferential
insulting civil, polite, conciliatory, respectful, courteous, deferential
2. disgusting, gross, nasty, foul, unpleasant, revolting, stinking, sickening, vile, repellent, unsavoury, obnoxious, unpalatable, objectionable, disagreeable, nauseating, odious, repugnant, loathsome, abominable, grotty (slang), detestable, noisome, yucky or yukky (slang) the offensive smell of manure
disgusting attractive, charming, pleasant, delightful, captivating, agreeable
disgusting attractive, charming, pleasant, delightful, captivating, agreeable
3. attacking, threatening, aggressive, striking, hostile, invading, combative The troops were in an offensive position.
attacking defensive
attacking defensive
noun
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002
offensive
adjective1. Extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings:
atrocious, disgusting, foul, horrid, nasty, nauseating, repellent, repulsive, revolting, sickening, ugly, unwholesome, vile.
The act of attacking:
The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Translations
كَريه، مُقْرِفمُسِيءٌهُجوم، مُهاجَمَههُجوميهُجومي، مُهين، مُزْعِج
urážlivý
fornærmendeoffensivangrebforfærdelig
hyökkäyshyökkäyskantapysyä hyökkäyskannallavastenmielinen
uvredljiv
árásárásar-móîgandiógeîslegur
嫌な
불쾌하게 하는
ofenzíva
anstötlig
ซึ่งทำให้ขุ่นเคือง
khó chịu
offensive
[əˈfensɪv]A. ADJ
1. (= causing offence, unpleasant) [behaviour, book, joke] → ofensivo; [remark, language] → ofensivo, insultante; [smell] → muy desagradable
to find sth/sb offensive → encontrar algo/a algn ofensivo
he doesn't mean to be offensive → no pretende ofender
to be offensive to sb → ofender a algn
to find sth/sb offensive → encontrar algo/a algn ofensivo
he doesn't mean to be offensive → no pretende ofender
to be offensive to sb → ofender a algn
2. (Mil) [operation, action, capability] → ofensivo
3. (Sport) [player, play] → de ataque
B. N (Comm, Mil, Sport) → ofensiva f
an advertising offensive → una ofensiva publicitaria
to be on the offensive → estar a la ofensiva
to go on the offensive → pasar a la ofensiva, pasar al ataque
to launch an offensive → lanzar una ofensiva
a sales offensive → una ofensiva de ventas
to take the offensive → tomar la ofensiva
an advertising offensive → una ofensiva publicitaria
to be on the offensive → estar a la ofensiva
to go on the offensive → pasar a la ofensiva, pasar al ataque
to launch an offensive → lanzar una ofensiva
a sales offensive → una ofensiva de ventas
to take the offensive → tomar la ofensiva
Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005
offensive
[əˈfɛnsɪv] adj
[remark, gesture, behaviour, show, film] → offensant(e)
to be offensive to sb → être offensant envers qn offensive material
to be offensive to sb → être offensant envers qn offensive material
[smell] → très déplaisant(e)
(MILITARY) [operations, action] → offensif/ive
(= attacking) [team, play] → offensif/ive
n
(= attack) → offensive f
a two-week military offensive → une offensive militaire de deux semaines
to go on the offensive → passer à l'offensive
to take the offensive (fig) → passer à l'offensiveoffensive material n (on internet) → contenu m inappropriéoffensive weapon n → arme f offensive
a two-week military offensive → une offensive militaire de deux semaines
to go on the offensive → passer à l'offensive
to take the offensive (fig) → passer à l'offensiveoffensive material n (on internet) → contenu m inappropriéoffensive weapon n → arme f offensive
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005
offensive
adj
(Jur) → Angriffs-; (Mil) → Offensiv-; action → offensiv; offensive play (Sport) → Offensivspiel nt; offensive player → Offensivspieler(in) m(f)
(= unpleasant) smell, sight → übel, abstoßend, widerlich; language, film, book → anstößig, Anstoß erregend; (= insulting, abusive) remark, gesture, behaviour → beleidigend, unverschämt; his language was offensive to his parents → seine Ausdrucksweise erregte Anstoß bei seinen Eltern; to find somebody/something offensive → jdn/etw abstoßend finden; behaviour, language → Anstoß an etw (dat) → nehmen; he was offensive to her → er beleidigte sie; I don’t mean to be offensive → ich möchte nicht beleidigend wirken; there’s no need to get offensive → kein Grund, ausfällig or ausfallend zu werden
Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007
offensive
[əˈfɛnsɪv]1. adj
a. (causing offence, unpleasant, behaviour, remark) → offensivo/a; (person) → antipatico/a; (smell, sight) → sgradevole
to be offensive to sb → offendere qn
to be offensive to sb → offendere qn
b. (attacking) → offensivo/a
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995
offend
(əˈfend) verb1. to make feel upset or angry. If you don't go to her party she will be offended; His criticism offended her.
2. to be unpleasant or disagreeable. Cigarette smoke offends me.
ofˈfence , (American) ofˈfense noun1. (any cause of) anger, displeasure, hurt feelings etc. That rubbish dump is an offence to the eye.
2. a crime. The police charged him with several offences.
ofˈfender noun a person who offends, especially against the law.
ofˈfensive (-siv) adjective1. insulting. offensive remarks.
2. disgusting. an offensive smell.
3. used to attack. an offensive weapon.
noun an attack. They launched an offensive against the invading army.
ofˈfensively adverbofˈfensiveness noun
be on the offensive
to be making an attack. She always expects people to criticize her and so she is always on the offensive.
take offence (with at) to be offended (by something). He took offence at what she said.
Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.
offensive
→ مُسِيءٌ urážlivý fornærmende widerlich προσβλητικός ofensivo vastenmielinen offensif uvredljiv offensivo 嫌な 불쾌하게 하는 kwetsend offensiv cuchnący ofensivo оскорбительный anstötlig ซึ่งทำให้ขุ่นเคือง saldırgan khó chịu 无礼的Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009
offensive
a. ofensivo-a.
English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012