offensive
/əˈfensɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈfensɪv/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈfen(t)-siv especially for sense 1 ˈä-ˌfen(t)- ˈȯ-/ (ame, mw) · /əˈfen.sɪv/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈfen.sɪv/ (ame, ipa)
offensive — adjective
- offensivepositive
- more offensivecomparative
- most offensivesuperlative
1. saying or showing something rude that hurts a person's feelings or shows no resp
saying or showing something rude that hurts a person's feelings or shows no respect for who they are or what they believe.
Many viewers found the comedian's joke about disabled people deeply offensive.
find + something + offensive
The poster outside the cafe was offensive to women, so the owner took it down.
offensive to + group
Marcus apologised after his email used language that sounded offensive.
Some of the words in the old song are now considered highly offensive.
Lina told her brother that calling people "stupid" was rude and offensive.
- insulting
stronger; suggests a clear personal attack on someone
- rude
milder and more everyday; can apply to bad manners, not only hurtful speech
- disrespectful
focuses on lack of respect rather than on hurt feelings
- respectful
shows polite regard for others
- inoffensive
deliberately careful not to upset anyone
文法句型
offensive to + person/group
find something offensive
用法筆記
Often used after the verbs 'find', 'consider', or 'be', and frequently followed by 'to' + the person or group hurt by the words. Distinguish from sense 2: this sense is about words, jokes, images, or behaviour aimed at people; sense 2 covers smells, tastes, or sights that disgust the body.
常見錯誤
2. very unpleasant to the senses, especially a smell, taste, or sight that makes pe
very unpleasant to the senses, especially a smell, taste, or sight that makes people want to turn away.
An offensive smell drifted out of the rubbish bin behind the kitchen.
collocation: offensive smell
The old fish in the fridge gave off an offensive odour.
Workers wore masks because the chemical fumes were offensive to breathe.
Rotten eggs have one of the most offensive smells you can imagine.
- disgusting
stronger; a much more everyday word than 'offensive' for bad smells
- foul
common with smells and tastes; slightly more dramatic
- nasty
informal; broader, can describe many unpleasant things
- pleasant
agreeable to the senses
文法句型
offensive smell/taste/sight
用法筆記
Most often pairs with 'smell', 'odour', 'taste', or 'fumes'. Distinguish from sense 1: here the trigger is a physical sensation, not words or behaviour aimed at a person.
3. made or used for striking at an enemy rather than for protecting yourself, espec
made or used for striking at an enemy rather than for protecting yourself, especially when talking about weapons or military plans.
The treaty banned the country from building offensive nuclear weapons.
collocation: offensive weapon
The general drew up an offensive plan to retake the bridge by dawn.
Those missiles count as offensive, not defensive, equipment.
The army shifted from a defensive posture to an offensive one last week.
- aggressive
broader; describes the style or attitude, not just the equipment
- attacking
more general; can describe people or movements as well as weapons
- defensive
made or used for protecting yourself
文法句型
offensive + weapon/operation/strategy
用法筆記
Almost always paired with words like 'weapon', 'operation', 'strategy', 'capability', or 'posture'. Often set against 'defensive' in the same sentence. Distinguish from sense 4: sense 3 is military or violent; sense 4 is about scoring in sport.
4. in a team sport, belonging to the side that has the ball and is trying to get po
in a team sport, belonging to the side that has the ball and is trying to get points or goals, rather than the side defending.
The team's offensive line gave the quarterback enough time to throw.
collocation: offensive line (American football)
Coach Patel praised her squad's offensive play in the second half.
Carlos is an offensive player who loves running at defenders.
Their offensive strategy in the last quarter won them the championship.
- attacking
more common in British football for the same idea
- defensive
the side trying to stop the other team scoring
文法句型
offensive + player/play/line
用法筆記
Common in American sports writing, especially American football and basketball. Distinguish from sense 3: sense 4 is about scoring in a game, not military attack.
offensive — noun
- offensivesingular
- offensivesplural
1. a large attack that an army has prepared in advance, usually aimed at taking gro
a large attack that an army has prepared in advance, usually aimed at taking ground or weakening an enemy.
The army launched a major offensive against rebel forces at sunrise.
collocation: launch an offensive against
General Park ordered a ground offensive in the mountains north of the city.
The spring offensive lasted six weeks and ended with heavy losses on both sides.
Troops mounted a fresh offensive after the failed peace talks.
文法句型
launch/mount an offensive
offensive against + enemy
用法筆記
Almost always introduced by verbs like 'launch', 'mount', 'begin', or 'order'. Adjectives such as 'major', 'ground', 'air', or 'spring' often come before it. Distinguish from sense 2: sense 1 is the actual attack itself; sense 2 is the wider campaign or push, often used in non-military contexts too.
常見錯誤
2. a position in which you are actively attacking someone with words, actions, or w
a position in which you are actively attacking someone with words, actions, or weapons, instead of waiting to be attacked first; usually in the phrase 'on the offensive'.
After weeks of bad news, the prime minister went on the offensive in parliament.
fixed phrase: go on the offensive (verbal)
The lawyer stayed on the offensive throughout the trial, questioning every claim.
stay on the offensive
Once the rival company cut prices, our marketing team had to go on the offensive.
Coach Tanaka told the players to stay on the offensive for the whole match.
- attack mode
informal equivalent of 'on the offensive'
- aggression
describes the attitude rather than the position
- defensive
as in 'on the defensive', protecting yourself from attack
文法句型
on the offensive
go on the offensive
用法筆記
Almost always appears inside the fixed phrases 'on the offensive', 'go on the offensive', or 'stay on the offensive'. Often used about politics, business, or sport rather than literal warfare. Distinguish from sense 1: sense 2 names the stance or attitude, not the attack event itself.
3. the act of starting an attack before the other side does; usually in the phrase
the act of starting an attack before the other side does; usually in the phrase 'take the offensive'.
Rather than wait, the smaller army took the offensive at first light.
fixed phrase: take the offensive
In the debate, Senator Diaz took the offensive and forced her opponent to defend his record.
The boxer took the offensive in round one and never let his rival recover.
Knowing the rumours would spread, the company took the offensive and held a press conference.
- initiative
as in 'take the initiative'; broader, not just about attack
- first strike
military or strategic; a single opening blow
- wait
let the other side act first
文法句型
take the offensive
用法筆記
Nearly always appears in the fixed phrase 'take the offensive'. Distinguish from sense 2: 'take the offensive' (sense 3) marks the moment you switch to attacking first; 'on the offensive' (sense 2) describes the ongoing stance after that switch.