offensive

About 10.19 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. adjective Causing offense; arousing a visceral reaction of disgust, anger, hatred, sadness, or indignation.

   Some people find pornography offensive.

2. adjective Socially disrespectful; insensitive.
3. adjective Relating to an offense or attack, as opposed to defensive.

   The army's offensive capabilities. An offensive weapon.

4. adjective Having to do with play directed at scoring.

   The offensive coordinator is responsible for ordering all rushing plays.

5. noun An attack.

   The Marines today launched a major offensive.

6. noun The posture of attacking or being able to attack.

   He took the offensive in the press, accusing his opponent of corruption.

Similar words

outrageous insulting abusive obnoxious scornful opprobrious repulsive wicked detestable repugnant

Often followed by

to and in against operations was of or on

Word family

offensively offensiveness offensivenesses offensives