Offensive

Pronunciation: /əˈfɛnsɪv/

Offensive (adjective)

  1. causing someone to feel hurt, angry, or upset.
  2. related to an attack or aggressive action, especially in war.

Examples

  • His comments were offensive to many listeners.
  • The joke was considered offensive by the audience.

Common collocations: offensive remark, offensive language, find offensive, offensive strategy, offensive maneuver

Offensive (noun)

  1. a planned military attack against an enemy.

Examples

  • The general planned a major offensive to regain territory.
  • An offensive was launched to capture the city.

Synonyms of Offensive

Formal

Neutral

Informal

Antonyms of Offensive

  • describing something not likely to offend
  • describing courteous behavior or speech