offensive (redirected from going on the offensive)

of·fen·sive  (-fnsv)

adj.

1. Disagreeable to the senses: an offensive odor.

2. Causing anger, displeasure, resentment, or affront: an offensive gesture.

3.

a. Making an attack: The offensive troops gained ground quickly.

b. Of, relating to, or designed for attack: offensive weapons.

4. (fn-) 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.

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of·fensive·ly adv.

of·fensive·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.

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offensive

Adjective

1. unpleasant or disgusting to the senses: there was an offensive smell of beer

2. causing annoyance or anger; insulting

3. for the purpose of attack rather than defence

Noun

1. an attitude or position of aggression: to go on the offensive

2. an attack or hostile action: troops had launched a major offensive against the rebel forces

offensively adv

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	offensive - the action of attacking an enemy offence, offense military operation, operation - activity by a military or naval force (as a maneuver or campaign); "it was a joint operation of the navy and air force" counteroffensive - a large scale offensive (more than a counterattack) undertaken by a defending force to seize the initiative from an attacking force dirty war - an offensive conducted by secret police or the military of a regime against revolutionary and terrorist insurgents and marked by the use of kidnapping and torture and murder with civilians often being the victims; "thousands of people disappeared and were killed during Argentina's dirty war in the late 1970s" push back, rollback - the act of forcing the enemy to withdraw
Adj.	1.	offensive - violating or tending to violate or offend against; "violative of the principles of liberty"; "considered such depravity offensive against all laws of humanity" violative offending - offending against or breaking a law or rule; "contracts offending against the statute were canceled"
	2.	offensive - for the purpose of attack rather than defense; "offensive weapons" aggressive - having or showing determination and energetic pursuit of your ends; "an aggressive businessman"; "an aggressive basketball player"; "he was aggressive and imperious; positive in his convictions"; "aggressive drivers" hostile - characterized by enmity or ill will; "a hostile nation"; "a hostile remark"; "hostile actions" defensive - intended or appropriate for defending against or deterring aggression or attack; "defensive weapons"; "a defensive stance"
	3.	offensive - causing anger or annoyance; "offensive remarks" harmful - causing or capable of causing harm; "too much sun is harmful to the skin"; "harmful effects of smoking" disrespectful - exhibiting lack of respect; rude and discourteous; "remarks disrespectful of the law"; "disrespectful in the presence of his parents"; "disrespectful toward his teacher" inoffensive, unoffending - not causing anger or annoyance; "inoffensive behavior"
	4.	offensive - morally offensive; "an unsavory reputation"; "an unsavory scandal" unsavory, unsavoury
	5.	offensive - unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses; "offensive odors" evil - morally bad or wrong; "evil purposes"; "an evil influence"; "evil deeds" hateful - evoking or deserving hatred; "no vice is universally as hateful as ingratitude"- Joseph Priestly unpalatable - not pleasant or acceptable to the taste or mind; "an unpalatable meal"; "unpalatable truths"; "unpalatable behavior" unpleasant - disagreeable to the senses, to the mind, or feelings ; "an unpleasant personality"; "unpleasant repercussions"; "unpleasant odors" inoffensive - giving no offense; "a quiet inoffensive man"; "a refreshing inoffensive stimulant"
	6.	offensive - substitute a harsher or distasteful term for a mild one ; "`nigger' is a dysphemistic term for `African-American'" dysphemistic
	7.	offensive - causing or able to cause nausea; "a nauseating smell"; "nauseous offal"; "a sickening stench" loathsome, nauseating, nauseous, noisome, queasy, sickening, vile unwholesome - detrimental to physical or moral well-being; "unwholesome food"; "unwholesome habits like smoking"

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offensive

adjective 1. insulting, rude, abusive, embarrassing, slighting, annoying, irritating, degrading, affronting, contemptuous, disparaging, displeasing, objectionable, disrespectful, scurrilous, detestable, discourteous, uncivil, unmannerly << OPPOSITE respectful

adjective 2. disgusting, gross, nasty, foul, unpleasant, revolting, stinking, sickening, vile, repellent, unsavoury, obnoxious, unpalatable, objectionable, disagreeable, nauseating, odious, repugnant, loathsome, abominable, grotty (slang) detestable, noisome, yucky or yukky (slang) festy Austral. (slang) yucko Austral. (slang) << OPPOSITE pleasant

adjective 3. attacking, threatening, aggressive, striking, hostile, invading, combative << OPPOSITE defensive

noun 4. attack, charge, campaign, strike, push (informal) rush, assault, raid, drive, invasion, onslaught, foray, incursion

Translations

offensive [əˈfɛnsɪv] adj → ofensivo; [smell etc] → repugnante

n (MIL) → ofensiva

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offensive [əˈfɛnsɪv] adj → offensant(e) → choquant(e); [smell etc] → très déplaisant(e); [weapon] → offensif/ive

n (Mil) → offensive f

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offensive [əˈfɛnsɪv] offend adj [remark, behaviour] → verletzend; [smell etc] → übel; [weapon] → Angriffs-

n (Mil) → Offensive f

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offensive [əˈfɛnsɪv] adj → offensivo/a; [smell etc] → sgradevole, ripugnante

n (MIL) → offensiva