offensive

adj.

1. Disagreeable to the senses: an offensive odor.
2. Causing anger, displeasure, resentment, or affront: an offensive gesture.
3. 1. Making an attack: The offensive troops gained ground quickly.
   2. Of, relating to, or designed for attack: offensive weapons.
4. (ŏfPRIMARY_STRESSĕn-) Sports. Of or relating to a team having possession of a ball or puck: the offensive line.

n.

1. An attitude or position of attack: go on the offensive in chess.
2. An attack or assault: led a massive military offensive.

offensively of·fen'sive·ly adv.
offensiveness of·fen'sive·ness n.

SYNONYMS   offensive, disgusting, loathsome, nasty, repellent, repulsive, revolting, vile. These adjectives mean extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings: an offensive remark; disgusting language; a loathsome disease; a nasty smell; a repellent demand; repulsive behavior; revolting food; vile thoughts. See also synonyms at hateful.

adjective

1. Extremely unpleasant to the senses or feelings: atrocious, disgusting, foul, horrid, nasty, nauseating, repellent, repulsive, revolting, sickening, ugly, unwholesome, vile. See like/dislike, pain/pleasure.
2. Not pleasant or agreeable: bad, disagreeable, displeasing, uncongenial, unpleasant, unsympathetic. Informal icky. Slang yucky. See good/bad, pain/pleasure.

noun

The act of attacking: aggression, assailment, assault, attack, attempt, offense, onrush, onset, onslaught, strike. See attack/defend.

adj

Definition: attacking
Antonyms: defending, defensive, guarding

adj

Definition: disrespectful, insulting
Antonyms: agreeable, complimentary, kind, nice, pleasing, polite, respectful

n

Definition: attack
Antonyms: defending, defense, defensive

---

adj. 1. actively aggressive; attacking: offensive operations against the insurgents.

2. (of a weapon) meant for use in attack.

n.

an attacking military campaign: an impending military offensive against the guerrillas.

go on ∨ take the offensive take the initiative by beginning to attack or act aggressively:

security forces took the offensive.

See the Introduction, Abbreviations and Pronunciation for further details.

A cynical view of the world by Ambrose Bierce

adj.

Generating disagreeable emotions or sensations, as the advance of an army against its enemy.

"Were the enemy's tactics offensive?" the king asked. "I should say so!" replied the unsuccessful general. "The blackguard wouldn't come out of his works!"

---

IN BRIEF: Unpleasant or causing resentment. Also: Attacking.

As they stepped into the limburger room of the cheese factory, they were hit by an offensive smell.

• Platform: IBM PC Compatible
• Release Date: 1996 07
• Genre: Strategy
• Style: 2D Real-Time Strategy

This entry is from Wikipedia, the leading user-contributed encyclopedia. It may not have been reviewed by professional editors (see full disclaimer)

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - fornærmelig, uforskammet, modbydelig, offensiv, angrebs-
n. - offensiv, angreb

idioms:

• go on the offensive    gå i offensiven
• take the offensive    tage offensiven

Nederlands (Dutch)
aanstootgevend, krenkend, offensief, beledigend, aanvallend, schokkend, grievend, agressief, (strategische) aanval aanvallen

Français (French)
adj. - injurieux, insultant, grossier (un langage), vulgaire (un geste), choquant (une attitude), repoussant (une odeur), répugnant (une conduite), (Mil, Sport) offensif
n. - (Mil, Pol, Sport) offensive, (Comm, Pub) campagne

idioms:

• go on the offensive    passer à l'offensive
• go over to the offensive    passer à l'offensive
• on the offensive    (être) à l'attaque
• take the offensive    prendre l'offensive

Deutsch (German)
n. - Offensive, Angriff
adj. - Angriffs-, anstößig, widerlich, abstoßend

idioms:

• go on the offensive    in die Offensive übergehen
• go over to the offensive    zur Offensive übergehen
• on the offensive    aggressiv sein
• take the offensive    in die Offensive übergehen

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - επίθεση, επιθετική στάση
adj. - υβριστικός, επιθετικός, προσβλητικός, (μτφ.) απεχθής, δυσάρεστος

idioms:

• go on the offensive    περνώ στην επίθεση
• take the offensive    λαμβάνω επιθετική στάση, αναλαμβάνω επίθεση

Italiano (Italian)
offensiva, attacco, scandaloso, disgustoso, ripugnante, sgradevole, rivoltante, offensivo, ingiurioso, aggressivo

idioms:

• take/go on the offensive    prendere l'offensiva

Português (Portuguese)
n. - ofensiva (f)
adj. - ofensivo

idioms:

• take/go on the offensive    entrar na ofensiva, tomar a ofensiva

Русский (Russian)
нападение, атака, оскорбительный, агрессивный

idioms:

• take/go on the offensive    перейти в атаку

Español (Spanish)
adj. - chocante, escandaloso, ofensivo, insultante, repugnante
n. - ofensiva

idioms:

• go on the offensive    tomar la ofensiva
• go over to the offensive    tomar la ofensiva
• on the offensive    al ataque, a la ofensiva
• take the offensive    tomar la ofensiva

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - offensiv
adj. - offensiv, aggressiv, stötande, obehaglig

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
讨厌的, 攻击性的, 无礼的, 进攻, 攻势

idioms:

• go on the offensive    进攻
• take the offensive    采取攻势

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 討厭的, 攻擊性的, 無禮的
n. - 進攻, 攻勢

idioms:

• go on the offensive    進攻
• take the offensive    採取攻勢

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 불쾌한, 무례한, 공격의
n. - 공격태세, 사회운동

idioms:

• go on the offensive    ~공세를 취하다
• take the offensive    법을 위반하다

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 不愉快な, 無礼な, 攻撃の, 不快な, 攻撃的な
n. - 攻撃

idioms:

• take/go on the offensive    攻勢をとる

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) الهجوم (صفه) هجومي‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מתקפי, של מתקפה, תוקפני, פוגע, מעליב, דוחה, מגעיל‬
n. - ‮מתקפה, התקפה, תוקפנות‬

If you are unable to view some languages clearly, click here.

To select your translation preferences click here.