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Antonyms for offensive


Grammar : Adj, noun
Spell : uh-fen-siv or for 4, 5, aw-fen-, of-en-
Phonetic Transcription : əˈfɛn sɪv or for 4, 5, ˈɔ fɛn-, ˈɒf ɛn-



Definition of offensive

Origin :
  • "attacking" (1540s), "insulting" (1570s), both from Middle French offensif (16c.) and directly from Medieval Latin offensivus, from Latin offens-, past participle stem of offendere "offend" (see offend). Related: Offensively; offensiveness.
  • adj disrespectful, insulting; displeasing
  • adj attacking
  • noun attack
Example sentences :
  • But it is offensive to man, insulting to the atmosphere, and destructive of him who uses it.
  • Extract from : « The Call of the Twentieth Century » by David Starr Jordan
  • But for the most part one side in battle is on the offensive; the other on the defensive.
  • Extract from : « Camps, Quarters and Casual Places » by Archibald Forbes
  • After much exercitation the Germans determined to adhere to the offensive.
  • Extract from : « Camps, Quarters and Casual Places » by Archibald Forbes
  • Discredited by lapse of time and offensive to the popular taste, as an old book.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • Of all unbeautiful and inappropriate conceptions this is the most reasonless and offensive.
  • Extract from : « The Devil's Dictionary » by Ambrose Bierce
  • We are not all arrayed in two opposite ranks; the offensive and the defensive.
  • Extract from : « Life And Adventures Of Martin Chuzzlewit » by Charles Dickens
  • With this hurried adjuration, he cocked his blunderbuss, and stood on the offensive.
  • Extract from : « A Tale of Two Cities » by Charles Dickens
  • General Lee was encouraged to assume the offensive, and to invade Pennsylvania.
  • Extract from : « The Nation in a Nutshell » by George Makepeace Towle
  • I think such a remark is offensive only when there is truth in it.
  • Extract from : « In a Steamer Chair and Other Stories » by Robert Barr
  • Your presence here is offensive to me and distressful to my niece.'
  • Extract from : « Barnaby Rudge » by Charles Dickens

Synonyms for offensive

Based on : Thesaurus.com - Gutenberg.org - Dictionary.com - Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019