Offensive
adjective
Causing someone to feel upset or annoyed.
He made some offensive remarks about her appearance
Often appears as...
- offensive language
- offensive remarks
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
An organized and forceful campaign to achieve something, typically a political or social end.
The government launched an offensive to regain control of the capital
Often appears as...
- launch an offensive
- military offensive
Usage tips
Approving
adjective
For the purpose of attack rather than defense.
In this game, we should adopt an offensive strategy
Often appears as...
- offensive weapons
- offensive strategy
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Causally unpleasant or disagreeable to one's senses.
The garbage left a deeply offensive smell
Often appears as...
- offensive smell
- offensive taste
Usage tips
Disapproving
adjective
Causing someone to feel upset or annoyed.
He made some offensive remarks about her appearance
Often appears as...
- offensive language
- offensive remarks
Usage tips
Disapproving
noun
An organized and forceful campaign to achieve something, typically a political or social end.
The government launched an offensive to regain control of the capital
Often appears as...
- launch an offensive
- military offensive
Usage tips
Approving
adjective
For the purpose of attack rather than defense.
In this game, we should adopt an offensive strategy
Often appears as...
- offensive weapons
- offensive strategy
Usage tips
Technical
adjective
Causally unpleasant or disagreeable to one's senses.
The garbage left a deeply offensive smell
Often appears as...
- offensive smell
- offensive taste
Usage tips
Disapproving
Definition 1 of 4
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Words deemed offensive can vary greatly across cultures and may not be immediately obvious to learners.
The word was offensive among her community, though it seemed neutral to outsiders.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Attacks
'Offensive' often refers to speech that personally attacks or demeans someone.
His joke was offensive because it targeted a specific group of people.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-Verbal Offense
Offensive behavior isn't limited to words; actions can also be deemed inappropriate or disrespectful.
Rolling her eyes during the meeting was seen as offensive.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Words deemed offensive can vary greatly across cultures and may not be immediately obvious to learners.
The word was offensive among her community, though it seemed neutral to outsiders.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Attacks
'Offensive' often refers to speech that personally attacks or demeans someone.
His joke was offensive because it targeted a specific group of people.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-Verbal Offense
Offensive behavior isn't limited to words; actions can also be deemed inappropriate or disrespectful.
Rolling her eyes during the meeting was seen as offensive.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Words deemed offensive can vary greatly across cultures and may not be immediately obvious to learners.
The word was offensive among her community, though it seemed neutral to outsiders.
Pro Tip 2/3Personal Attacks
'Offensive' often refers to speech that personally attacks or demeans someone.
His joke was offensive because it targeted a specific group of people.
Pro Tip 3/3Non-Verbal Offense
Offensive behavior isn't limited to words; actions can also be deemed inappropriate or disrespectful.
Rolling her eyes during the meeting was seen as offensive.
Compare with
abusivedisrespectfulimproperindecentinsultobjectionableprovocativerepulsiverude
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Video examples
Gridiron physics:...
Defense looks like they're gonna to man up with no safety. This is the exact offensive match-up that they the best receiver lined up against the linebacker. Quarterback steps back to receive the ball, five yards deep in the gun. He takes a snap, drops three steps, he plants his back foot, he's looking for an opening. There's a blitz coming off the edge!
Video examples
I grew up in the...
that even when my words were aggressive and offensive, I sincerely believed I was doing the right thing. Assuming ill motives almost instantly cuts us off from truly understanding why someone does and believes as they do. We forget that they're a human being with a lifetime of experience that shaped their mind,
Video examples
Dare to refuse the...
but I don't necessarily have to respect the content. I might like some of it. I might like how an old church looks, for example, but this isn't the same thing. Similarly, I have a human right to say something that you may find offensive, but you do not have a human right not to be offended.
Video examples
Karima Bennoune: The...
makes them no less offensive than the extreme right anywhere else. So in my view, if we consider ourselves liberal or left-wing, human rights-loving or feminist, we must oppose these movements and support their grassroots opponents. Now let me be clear that I support an effective struggle
Video examples
John Hunter: Teaching...
then we go back in negotiation, around and around, so each turn around is one game day. So a few game days later it came to light that we found out this major country was planning a military offensive to dominate the entire world. Had they had their fuel supplies, they would have done it.
Video examples
Why do we sleep? PIPE...
Listen to them. Listen to yourself. What do you do? Well -- and this is slightly offensive -- sleep for dummies. Make your bedroom a haven for sleep. The first critical thing is make it as dark as you possibly can, and also make it slightly cool. Very important.
Video examples
How to shift your...
Some, they will have been able to prevent, but others, it will have been beyond their control. Does that make their contribution futile and meaningless? Actually, it's offensive even to suggest that. What they are doing is caring for their fellow human beings
Video examples
Gyre: Creating Art From...
engine behind this project well I'm pegged with the the title project leader I feel now I'm just a facilitator helping create the stage for these voices to come together on to me there's a deeply offensive concept
Video examples
A Black man goes...
Now, would you believe, would you believe that some people find that offensive? And -- And so, I mean, listen, the fact is that millennials get a lifetime of diet brand history.
Video examples
Oviraptorid Defends Her...
and if that fails, it goes on the offensive.
Video examples
Gridiron physics:...
Defense looks like they're gonna to man up with no safety. This is the exact offensive match-up that they the best receiver lined up against the linebacker. Quarterback steps back to receive the ball, five yards deep in the gun. He takes a snap, drops three steps, he plants his back foot, he's looking for an opening. There's a blitz coming off the edge!
Video examples
I grew up in the...
that even when my words were aggressive and offensive, I sincerely believed I was doing the right thing. Assuming ill motives almost instantly cuts us off from truly understanding why someone does and believes as they do. We forget that they're a human being with a lifetime of experience that shaped their mind,
Video examples
Dare to refuse the...
but I don't necessarily have to respect the content. I might like some of it. I might like how an old church looks, for example, but this isn't the same thing. Similarly, I have a human right to say something that you may find offensive, but you do not have a human right not to be offended.
Video examples
Karima Bennoune: The...
makes them no less offensive than the extreme right anywhere else. So in my view, if we consider ourselves liberal or left-wing, human rights-loving or feminist, we must oppose these movements and support their grassroots opponents. Now let me be clear that I support an effective struggle
Video examples
John Hunter: Teaching...
then we go back in negotiation, around and around, so each turn around is one game day. So a few game days later it came to light that we found out this major country was planning a military offensive to dominate the entire world. Had they had their fuel supplies, they would have done it.
Video examples
Why do we sleep? PIPE...
Listen to them. Listen to yourself. What do you do? Well -- and this is slightly offensive -- sleep for dummies. Make your bedroom a haven for sleep. The first critical thing is make it as dark as you possibly can, and also make it slightly cool. Very important.
Video examples
How to shift your...
Some, they will have been able to prevent, but others, it will have been beyond their control. Does that make their contribution futile and meaningless? Actually, it's offensive even to suggest that. What they are doing is caring for their fellow human beings
Video examples
Gyre: Creating Art From...
engine behind this project well I'm pegged with the the title project leader I feel now I'm just a facilitator helping create the stage for these voices to come together on to me there's a deeply offensive concept
Video examples
A Black man goes...
Now, would you believe, would you believe that some people find that offensive? And -- And so, I mean, listen, the fact is that millennials get a lifetime of diet brand history.
Video examples
Oviraptorid Defends Her...
and if that fails, it goes on the offensive.
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Julia Davis
English Comedian
People could write stuff that's really offensive, but if it's written within a believable world that has a tone to it, then it can be funny. But if it's just shock-value stuff, then it's not going to work, because it's not coming from a true place.
Quote examples
Ben Carson
American Scientist
Our - our friends can't trust us anymore. You know, Ukraine was a nuclear-armed state. They gave away their nuclear arms with the understanding that we would protect them. We won't even give them offensive weapons.
Quote examples
Jeremy Corbyn
British Politician
The idea that somehow or other you can deal with all the problems in the world by banning a particular religious group from entering the U.S.A. is offensive and absurd.
Quote examples
Jonathan Ive
English Designer
What we make testifies who we are. People can sense care and can sense carelessness. This relates to respect for each other and carelessness is personally offensive.
Quote examples
Jrue Holiday
American Basketball Player
Just knowing the game of basketball, it's important to be able to see it from a different perspective, not only offensively but also defensively.
Quote examples
Johan Cruyff
Dutch Athlete
Football is about having the best offensive play possible. I always like to play offensive football, and nobody will convince me otherwise.
Quote examples
J. J. Redick
American Athlete
I feel like I'm a guy who consistently makes the right play and the right reads offensively and that helps my teammates.
Quote examples
Becky Sauerbrunn
American Athlete
Although offensive play is important, it's defending that gets you titles.
Quote examples
Willian
Brazilian Athlete
Both sides of the game, defensively and offensively, are important.
Quote examples
Cody Bellinger
American Athlete
If I can't help the team offensively, I can help defensively.
Quote examples
Julia Davis
English Comedian
People could write stuff that's really offensive, but if it's written within a believable world that has a tone to it, then it can be funny. But if it's just shock-value stuff, then it's not going to work, because it's not coming from a true place.
Quote examples
Ben Carson
American Scientist
Our - our friends can't trust us anymore. You know, Ukraine was a nuclear-armed state. They gave away their nuclear arms with the understanding that we would protect them. We won't even give them offensive weapons.
Quote examples
Jeremy Corbyn
British Politician
The idea that somehow or other you can deal with all the problems in the world by banning a particular religious group from entering the U.S.A. is offensive and absurd.
Quote examples
Jonathan Ive
English Designer
What we make testifies who we are. People can sense care and can sense carelessness. This relates to respect for each other and carelessness is personally offensive.
Quote examples
Jrue Holiday
American Basketball Player
Just knowing the game of basketball, it's important to be able to see it from a different perspective, not only offensively but also defensively.
Quote examples
Johan Cruyff
Dutch Athlete
Football is about having the best offensive play possible. I always like to play offensive football, and nobody will convince me otherwise.
Quote examples
J. J. Redick
American Athlete
I feel like I'm a guy who consistently makes the right play and the right reads offensively and that helps my teammates.
Quote examples
Becky Sauerbrunn
American Athlete
Although offensive play is important, it's defending that gets you titles.
Quote examples
Willian
Brazilian Athlete
Both sides of the game, defensively and offensively, are important.
Quote examples
Cody Bellinger
American Athlete
If I can't help the team offensively, I can help defensively.
Example 1 of 10
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