I. əˈfen(t)siv, ˈȯˌf-, ˈäˌf-, -sēv also -səv adjective
Etymology: Middle French or Medieval Latin; Middle French offensif, from Medieval Latin offensivus, from Latin offensus (past participle of offendere ) + -ivus -ive
1. : making attack : relating to or characterized by attack : aggressive : fitted for or used in attacking
offensive weapons
offensive maneuver
offensive strength
— opposed to defensive
2.
a. obsolete : causing injury or damage : harmful
b. : giving painful or unpleasant sensations : nauseous , obnoxious , revolting
offensive odor of garbage
3. : causing displeasure or resentment : giving offense : insulting , affronting
loud, offensive behavior
offensive advertising
it's offensive to a gentleman's feelings when his word isn't believed — Dorothy Sayers
4. obsolete : offending, transgressive , sinful
Synonyms:
loathsome , repulsive , repugnant , revolting : offensive describes what is disagreeable or nauseating or painful because of outrage to taste and sensibilities or affronting insultingness
her head thrown back, her face discolored, her eyes bulging, her mouth wet and yawning: a sight horribly offensive — Arnold Bennett
bad manners and a blatancy that, for some reason, seemed much more offensive than any mere peasant crudeness of their parents — Edmund Wilson
his jeering voice had an offensive, deliberately insulting tone — O.E.Rölvaag
loathsome applies to what is foul or corrupt to the point of being quite disgusting or abhorrent
upon the bed, before that whole company, there lay a nearly liquid mass of loathsome — of detestable putrescence — E.A.Poe
picturing on many pages of his immortal comedy of hell, purgatory, and paradise the most horrible monsters and tortures, and the most loathsome and noisome abominations — C.W.Eliot
repulsive describes whatever produces strong physical disgust or aversion
there was something repulsive about his touch. I shrank from his hand; my flesh revolted — Jack London
rats, mice, dogs, cats, and such repulsive substitutes for food — J.L.Motley
repugnant describes what is highly offensive as in conflict with one's nature, principles, or tastes
intensely repugnant to human nature, being a condition of chronic terror that at last became unbearable — G.B.Shaw
if violence was incompatible with the character of a Virginia gentleman, how much more repugnant must it appear to the ideal of pure womanhood — Ellen Glasgow
revolting applies to what is offensive or repulsive and calls forth a determination to resist, rebel, or escape, especially on the part of a person of delicate sensibilities
his whole body shivered and started into awe-inspiring movement, monstrous and inhuman, revolting … yet pitiful — Liam O'Flaherty
the maneuvers of selfishness and duplicity must ever be revolting — Jane Austen
II. noun
( -s )
1. : the state or posture of one that is attacking : aggressive attitude : act of the attacking party
took the offensive
— opposed to defensive
2. : a sustained or large-scale attack
offensive aimed at the enemy's capital
: an aggressive action or movement
an economic offensive can often prevent the necessity for a … military defense — W.H.Draper