offensive

offensive
[[t]əfe̱nsɪv[/t]]
♦♦♦
offensives
1) ADJ-GRADED Something that is offensive upsets or embarrasses people because it is rude or insulting.

Some friends of his found the play horribly offensive.

...offensive remarks which called into question the integrity of my firm.

Syn:
Derived words:
offensively ADV-GRADED ADV after v, ADV adj

The group who had been shouting offensively opened to let her through...

I thought his glance at me had been offensively bold.

2) N-COUNT: oft supp N A military offensive is a carefully planned attack made by a large group of soldiers.

Its latest military offensive against rebel forces is aimed at re-opening important trade routes...

The armed forces have launched offensives to recapture lost ground.

3) N-COUNT: usu supp N If you conduct an offensive, you take strong action to show how angry you are about something or how much you disapprove of something.
→ See also charm offensive

Republicans acknowledged that they had little choice but to mount an all-out offensive on the Democratic nominee.

...a diplomatic offensive.

4) ADJ: usu ADJ n In sports such as American football or basketball, the offensive team is the team which has possession of the ball and is trying to score. [AM]

The worst-ever defeat of this team proved once again that Stanford can be one of the most explosive offensive teams in the country.

5) PHRASE: V inflects If you go on the offensive, go over to the offensive, or take the offensive, you begin to take strong action against people who have been attacking you.

The West African forces went on the offensive in response to attacks on them...

The Foreign Secretary has decided to take the offensive in the discussion on the future of the community.


English dictionary. 2008.

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Synonyms:
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Look at other dictionaries:

  • offensive — [ ɔfɑ̃siv ] n. f. • 1587; de offensif 1 ♦ Action d attaquer l ennemi, en prenant l initiative des opérations. ⇒ attaque. Prendre, reprendre l offensive. Passer à l offensive. Une offensive : attaque d envergure, exécutée à l échelon d une grande… …   Encyclopédie Universelle

  • offensive# — offensive adj 1 attacking, aggressive (see under ATTACK n) Analogous words: invasive, incursive (see corresponding nouns at INVASION): assaulting, assailing, attacking, bombarding, storming (see ATTACK vb) 2 Offensive, loathsome, repulsive,… …   New Dictionary of Synonyms

  • Offensive — Of*fen sive, a. [Cf. F. offensif. See {Offend}.] [1913 Webster] 1. Giving offense; causing displeasure or resentment; displeasing; annoying; as, offensive words. [1913 Webster] 2. Giving pain or unpleasant sensations; disagreeable; revolting;… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • offensive — of·fen·sive /ə fen siv/ adj 1: of, relating to, or designed for attack offensive weapons 2: causing displeasure or resentment; esp: contrary to a particular or prevailing sense of what is decent, proper, or moral depicted sexual acts in a… …   Law dictionary

  • Offensive — Of*fen sive, n. The state or posture of one who offends or makes attack; aggressive attitude; the act of the attacking party; opposed to {defensive}. [1913 Webster] {To take the offensive}, {To act on the offensive}, {To go on the offensive}, to… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • offensive — UK US /əˈfensɪv/ adjective ► causing someone to feel upset and angry, often because of being rude: offensive to sb »His comments were highly offensive to women. »The channel ran a series of grossly offensive advertisements …   Financial and business terms

  • offensive — [adj1] disrespectful, insulting; displeasing abhorrent, abusive, annoying, biting, cutting, detestable, disagreeable, discourteous, distasteful, dreadful, embarrassing, evil, foul, ghastly, grisly, gross, hideous, horrible, horrid, impertinent,… …   New thesaurus

  • offensive — ► ADJECTIVE 1) causing offence. 2) involved or used in active attack. 3) chiefly N. Amer. relating to the team in possession of the ball or puck in a game. ► NOUN ▪ a military campaign of attack. ● be on the offensive Cf. ↑ …   English terms dictionary

  • offensive — [ə fen′siv; ] for adj., also [ ô′fen΄siv] adj. [ML offensivus < L offensa,OFFENSE] 1. attacking; aggressive 2. of or for attack ☆ 3. designating or of the side that is seeking to score in any contest 4. unpleasant, as to the senses;… …   English World dictionary

  • Offensive — (v. lat.), der Angriff, im Gegensatz zur. Defensive (s.d.), besteht darin, daß die feindliche Macht aufgesucht u. angegriffen wird, der Offensivkrieg od. Angriffskrieg beginnt daher mit dem Einbruch in Feindes Land. Man unterscheidet dabei… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Offensīve — (franz.), das angriffsweise Vorgehen gegen den Feind im Gegensatz zum Abwarten desselben in der Defensive (s. d.). Man unterscheidet die strategische O., das Angriffsverfahren in der Kriegführung, und die taktische O., den Angriff auf dem… …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

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