Offensive
[ə'fensɪv] or [ə'fɛnsɪv]
Definition
(adj.) unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses; 'offensive odors' .
(adj.) causing anger or annoyance; 'offensive remarks' .
(adj.) for the purpose of attack rather than defense; 'offensive weapons' .
(adj.) violating or tending to violate or offend against; 'violative of the principles of liberty'; 'considered such depravity offensive against all laws of humanity' .
Editor: Tamara--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Giving offense; causing displeasure or resentment; displeasing; annoying; as, offensive words.
(a.) Giving pain or unpleasant sensations; disagreeable; revolting; noxious; as, an offensive smell; offensive sounds.
(a.) Making the first attack; assailant; aggressive; hence, used in attacking; -- opposed to defensive; as, an offensive war; offensive weapons.
(n.) The state or posture of one who offends or makes attack; aggressive attitude; the act of the attacking party; -- opposed to defensive.
Checker: Susie
Synonyms and Synonymous
a. [1]. Aggressive, assailant, attacking, invading.[2]. Disgusting, nauseating, nauseous, sickening, loathsome, repulsive.[3]. Disagreeable, unpleasant, unpalatable, displeasing, revolting, shocking, abominable, detestable, hateful, execrable, obnoxious.
Edited by Caleb
Synonyms and Antonyms
SYN:Aggressive, obnoxious, distasteful, displeasing, foul, fetid, unsavory
ANT:Defensive, grateful, pleasant, savory
Edited by Charlene
Unserious Contents or Definition
adj. Generating disagreeable emotions or sensations as the advance of an army against its enemy.
Edited by Georgina
Examples
- Sure enough, as indicated by the change of commanders, the enemy was about to assume the offensive. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- When this road was finished the offensive would start. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- But perhaps the fascists were faking for another offensive down through Guadalajara with them. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- Can I go with thee to the offensive tomorrow? Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
- When Miss Brooke was at the tea-table, Sir James came to sit down by her, not having felt her mode of answering him at all offensive. George Eliot. Middlemarch.
- With this hurried adjuration, he cocked his blunderbuss, and stood on the offensive. Charles Dickens. A Tale of Two Cities.
- As to Twemlow, he is so sensible of being a much better bred man than Veneering, that he considers the large man an offensive ass. Charles Dickens. Our Mutual Friend.
- In two days the offensive was to start and I would go with the cars to Plava. Ernest Hemingway. A Farewell To Arms.
- Within ten days after reading Ironton I was prepared to take the offensive against the enemy at Greenville. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- Yet, the smell of a _Yahoo_ continuing very offensive, I always keep my nose well stopped with rue, lavender, or tobacco leaves. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- Instead of my being on the defensive, I would be on the offensive; instead of guessing at what he means to do, he would have to guess at my plans. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- All that cant--excuse me, but I repeat the word--all that _cant_ about soldiers and parsons is most offensive in my ears. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- After the latter the animal was ready to burst, and made so violent a discharge as was very offensive to me and my companion. Jonathan Swift. Gulliver's Travels into Several Remote Nations of the World.
- I repel a recommendation so offensive, was the answer, delivered in the same pure key, with the same clear look. Charlotte Bronte. Shirley.
- But we could do nothing where we were unless Lee would assume the offensive. Ulysses S. Grant. Personal Memoirs of U. S. Grant.
- They haven't enough troops or material to run two major offensives at the same time though. Hemingway, Ernest. For Whom The Bell Tolls.
Typist: Ora