OFFENSIVE • DICTIONARY ONE.COM • Definition of Offensive

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/əfˈɛnsɪv/ Listen

adjective

Offensive adj.

Giving offense; causing displeasure or resentment; displeasing; annoying; as, offensive words.

Giving pain or unpleasant sensations; disagreeable; revolting; noxious; as, an offensive smell; offensive sounds. "Offensive to the stomach."

Making the first attack; assailant; aggressive; hence, used in attacking; opposed to defensive; as, an offensive war; offensive weapons.

League offensive and defensive, a leaque that requires all the parties to it to make war together against any foe, and to defend one another if attacked.

Synonyms: Displeasing; disagreeable; distasteful; obnoxious; abhorrent; disgusting; impertinent; rude; saucy; reproachful; opprobrious; insulting; insolent; abusive; scurrilous; assailant; attacking; invading.

noun

Offensive n. The state or posture of one who offends or makes attack; aggressive attitude; the act of the attacking party; opposed to defensive.

To take the offensive, To act on the offensive, To go on the offensive, to be the attacking party; to initiate hostilities.

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Etymology of 'Offensive'

Collaborative International Dictionary of English 0.48

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"Offensive" Quotes from Famous Books

... church makes with antichrist is rather defensive than offensive. A Christian also, if he can but defend his soul in the sincere profession of the true religion, doth what by duty, as to this, he is bound. Wherefore, though the New Testament admits him to put on the whole armor of God, yet the whole and every part thereof is spiritual, and only defensive. ...

— The Riches of Bunyan • Jeremiah Rev. Chaplin

... of America, the utmost courtesy prevails. Most of our Departments are susceptible of considerable improvement in this respect, but the Custom-house above all others would do well to take example from the United States and render itself somewhat less odious and offensive to foreigners. The servile rapacity of the French officials is sufficiently contemptible; but there is a surly boorish incivility about our men, alike disgusting to all persons who fall into their hands, and discreditable ...

— American Notes for General Circulation • Charles Dickens

... should arrive to turn the scale. Under such circumstances, correct military principle—and the Boers have had good advisers—imperatively dictates that the belligerent so situated must at once assume an active {p.026} offensive. By rapid and energetic movement, while the opponent's forces are still separated, every advantage must be seized to destroy hostile detachments within reach, and to establish one's own front as far in ...

— Story of the War in South Africa - 1899-1900 • Alfred T. Mahan

... understand—they are both too old, of course. But Julian is the handsomest and richest bachelor in our parts, and Miss Aline—well, she is Miss Aline and owner of the Balmacminto estates. So I think she and uncle make—what is it called?—a kind of defensive and offensive alliance. I know Uncle Ju had nearly to fight old Sir Bunny Bunny the other day. He interviewed the old fellow. He had come to propose his son, who is such a donkey that the very village urchins bray after him and pretend ...

— Patsy • S. R. Crockett

... in line of an emphatic negative will appear from what follows. I know full well the tremendous task I have set myself by this position. In doing this, I must take up the defensive as well as offensive alike against a large per cent of people, outside of the Negro race, who set themselves up as an authority on all questions affecting the Negro, and, mark you, from their decision there is no appeal; as also against the know-alls within ...

— Twentieth Century Negro Literature - Or, A Cyclopedia of Thought on the Vital Topics Relating - to the American Negro • Various

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