offensive
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offensive
- /əˈfɛnsɪv/
- /əˈfɪ̟nsɪv/ pin pen merger
- /ˈɔˌfɛnsɪv/ US
- /ˈɑˌfɛnsɪv/ cot caught merger
Where it comes from
From Middle French offensif, from offendre + -if by analogy with défensif. Offendre is from Latin offendere (“to offend”); see offend.
adjective more offensive · most offensive · offencive
-
Causing offense; arousing a visceral reaction of disgust, anger, hatred, sadness, or indignation.
Some people find pornography offensive.
Opposite: inoffensive
-
Socially disrespectful; insensitive.
Opposite: inoffensive
-
Relating to an offense or attack, as opposed to defensive.
The army's offensive capabilities. An offensive weapon.
Opposite: defensive
- Having to do with play directed at scoring. The offensive coordinator is responsible for ordering all rushing plays.
Similar: aggressive, invidious
noun offensives · offencive
- An attack. The Marines today launched a major offensive.
- The posture of attacking or being able to attack. He took the offensive in the press, accusing his opponent of corruption.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: outrageous, insulting, abusive, obnoxious, scornful, opprobrious, repulsive, wicked, detestable, repugnant, scurrilous, horrific, abhorrent, vile, disgustful, loathsome
adjective
Similar: aggressive, invidious
Translations
Every language
adj causing offense
| Español | ofensivo |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 攻撃的な kōgekiteki na, 気に障る ki ni sawaru, 侮辱的な bujokuteki na |
| 中文 | 有攻擊性 /有攻击性 yǒugōngjīxìng, 冒犯的 màofàn de |
| हिन्दी | अपकारी apkārī |
| Português | ofensivo |
| Français | offensant |
| Deutsch | beleidigend |
| Ελληνικά | προσβλητικός prosvlitikós |
| Română | ofensant |
| Русский | оскорби́тельный oskorbítelʹnyj, оби́дный obídnyj |
| Tiếng Việt | xúc phạm, sỉ nhục |
adj relating to attack, offense
| Español | ofensiva |
|---|---|
| हिन्दी | अपकारी apkārī |
| Português | ofensivo |
| Français | offensif |
| Ελληνικά | επιθετικός epithetikós |
| Русский | наступа́тельный nastupátelʹnyj |
adj team sports: having to do with play directed at scoring
| Español | ofensivo |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | 攻撃側の kōgekigawa no |
| 中文 | 進攻性的 /进攻性的 jìngōngxìng de |
| Português | ofensivo |
| Français | offensif |
| Deutsch | offensiv |
| Italiano | offensivo |
| Ελληνικά | επιθετικός epithetikós |
| Русский | наступа́тельный nastupátelʹnyj |
noun an attack
| Español | ofensiva |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 공격 gonggyeok, 공세 gongse |
| 日本語 | 攻撃 kōgeki, 攻勢 kōsei |
| 中文 | 進攻 /进攻 jìngōng, 攻勢 /攻势 gōngshì |
| हिन्दी | हमला hamlā, आक्रमण ākramaṇ |
| Português | ofensiva |
| Français | offensive |
| Deutsch | Offensive, Angriff |
| Română | ofensivă, atac |
| Русский | наступле́ние nastuplénije, ата́ка atáka |
| Tiếng Việt | sự tấn công |
| العربية | هُجُوم hujūm, حَمْلَة ḥamla, هَجْمَة hajma |
| עברית | הַתְקָפָה hatkafá |
Talk about this word "offensive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/offensive. Accessed 5 Nov. 2026. offensive. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/offensive "offensive." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 5, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/offensive.Cite this
@misc{offensive_2026,
title = {offensive},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/offensive},
urldate = {2026-11-05}
}
