offensive


Also found in: Thesaurus, Acronyms, Idioms, Encyclopedia, Wikipedia.

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.
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:
Noun1.offensive - the action of attacking an enemyoffensive - 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"
push back, rollback - the act of forcing the enemy to withdraw
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 offensiveoffensive - 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 nauseaoffensive - 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
3. attacking, threatening, aggressive, striking, hostile, invading, combative The troops were in an offensive position.
attacking defensive
noun
1. attack, charge, campaign, strike, push (informal), rush, assault, raid, drive, invasion, onslaught, foray, incursion The armed forces have launched an offensive to recapture lost ground.
Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

offensive

adjective
1. Extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings:
2. Not pleasant or agreeable:
Informal: icky.
Slang: yucky.
noun
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
aanvalinvalklaar om aan te vallenkwetsendoffensief
ofenzíva
anstötlig
ซึ่งทำให้ขุ่นเคือง
iğrençinciticisaldırgansaldırısaldırı ile ilgili
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 offensiveencontrar algo/a algn ofensivo
he doesn't mean to be offensiveno pretende ofender
to be offensive to sbofender a algn
2. (Mil) [operation, action, capability] → ofensivo
3. (Sport) [player, play] → de ataque
B. N (Comm, Mil, Sport) → ofensiva f
an advertising offensiveuna ofensiva publicitaria
to be on the offensiveestar a la ofensiva
to go on the offensivepasar a la ofensiva, pasar al ataque
to launch an offensivelanzar una ofensiva
a sales offensiveuna ofensiva de ventas
to take the offensivetomar la ofensiva
C. CPD offensive weapon N (Jur) → arma f ofensiva (Mil) → arma f de ataque
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
[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 narme f offensive
Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

offensive

adj
(Jur) → Angriffs-; (Mil) → Offensiv-; actionoffensiv; offensive play (Sport) → Offensivspiel nt; offensive playerOffensivspieler(in) m(f)
(= unpleasant) smell, sightübel, abstoßend, widerlich; language, film, bookanstößig, Anstoß erregend; (= insulting, abusive) remark, gesture, behaviourbeleidigend, unverschämt; his language was offensive to his parentsseine Ausdrucksweise erregte Anstoß bei seinen Eltern; to find somebody/something offensivejdn/etw abstoßend finden; behaviour, languageAnstoß an etw (dat)nehmen; he was offensive to herer beleidigte sie; I don’t mean to be offensiveich möchte nicht beleidigend wirken; there’s no need to get offensivekein Grund, ausfällig or ausfallend zu werden
n (Mil, Sport) → Angriff m, → Offensive f; to take the offensivein die Offensive gehen; to go over or on to the offensivezum Angriff übergehen; on the offensivein der Offensive; to mount an offensive (against somebody/something)eine Offensive (gegen jdn/etw) starten
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
b. (attacking) → offensivo/a
2. n (Mil, Sport) → offensiva
to go over to or go on or take the offensive → passare all'offensiva
Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

offend

(əˈfend) verb
1. 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 noun
1. (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) adjective
1. 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 adverb
ofˈfensiveness 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
References in classic literature ?
Challenger, who, being satisfied that no criticism or comment in this book is meant in an offensive spirit, has guaranteed that he will place no impediment to its publication and circulation.
"Were the enemy's tactics offensive?" the king asked.
Security against defeat implies defensive tactics; ability to defeat the enemy means taking the offensive.
This man, who might have brought us to the king in three days, led us out of the way through horrid deserts destitute of water, or where what we found was so foul, nauseous, and offensive, that it excited a loathing and aversion which nothing but extreme necessity could have overcome.
If this is true, it is not only necessary to have walls, but care must be taken that they may be a proper ornament to the city, as well as a defence in time of war; not only according to the old methods, but the modern improvements also: for as those who make offensive war endeavour by every way possible to gain advantages over their adversaries, so should those who are upon the defensive employ all the means already known, and such new ones as philosophy can invent, to defend themselves: for those who are well prepared are seldom first attacked.
To represent a bad thing in its least offensive light is, doubtless, the most agreeable course for a writer of fiction to pursue; but is it the most honest, or the safest?
And not to him who is offensive to us are we most unfair, but to him who doth not concern us at all.
Just such a distasteful sensation was what Mihailov felt at the sight of Vronsky's painting: he felt it both ludicrous and irritating, both pitiable and offensive.
A layman who pried into the professional conduct of medical men, and was always obtruding his reforms,-- though he was less directly embarrassing to the two physicians than to the surgeon-apothecaries who attended paupers by contract, was nevertheless offensive to the professional nostril as such; and Dr.
'You are a very offensive fellow, sir,' cried Mr Lammle, rising.
A messenger was despatched half a day's journey before us, to give the king notice of my approach, and to desire, "that his majesty would please to appoint a day and hour, when it would by his gracious pleasure that I might have the honour to lick the dust before his footstool." This is the court style, and I found it to be more than matter of form: for, upon my admittance two days after my arrival, I was commanded to crawl upon my belly, and lick the floor as I advanced; but, on account of my being a stranger, care was taken to have it made so clean, that the dust was not offensive. However, this was a peculiar grace, not allowed to any but persons of the highest rank, when they desire an admittance.
From these considerations it appears that those gentlemen are greatly mistaken who suppose that alliances offensive and defensive might be formed between these confederacies, and would produce that combination and union of wills of arms and of resources, which would be necessary to put and keep them in a formidable state of defense against foreign enemies.

Full browser ?