offensive
adjective /əˈfensɪv/
/əˈfensɪv/
- offensive remarks
- The programme contains language which some viewers may find offensive.
- racially offensive language/comments
- offensive to somebody His comments were deeply offensive to a large number of single mothers.
Extra ExamplesTopics Personal qualitiesb2- This sort of attitude is very offensive to black people.
- This job is stressful enough even without clients being offensive.
- The material is patently offensive as measured by the standards for the broadcast medium.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- become
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- to
- (formal) extremely unpleasant synonym obnoxious
- The problem is how to eliminate offensive smells from the processing plant.
Synonyms disgustingdisgusting- foul
- revolting
- repulsive
- offensive
- gross
- disgusting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:
- What a disgusting smell!
- foul dirty, and tasting or smelling bad:
- She could smell his foul breath.
- revolting extremely unpleasant and making you feel slightly ill:
- The stew looked revolting.
- repulsive (rather formal) extremely unpleasant in a way that offends you or makes you feel slightly ill. Repulsive usually describes people, their behaviour or habits, which you may find offensive for physical or moral reasons.
- offensive (formal) (especially of smells) extremely unpleasant.
- gross (informal) (of a smell, taste or personal habit) extremely unpleasant.
- disgusting/repulsive/offensive to somebody
- to find somebody/something disgusting/revolting/repulsive/offensive
- to smell/taste disgusting/foul/gross
- a(n) disgusting/foul/revolting/offensive/gross smell
- a disgusting/revolting/gross habit
- disgusting/offensive/gross behaviour
- a disgusting/revolting/repulsive man/woman/person
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverbs- be
- seem
- become
- …
- extremely
- fairly
- very
- …
- to
- [only before noun] connected with the act of attacking somebody/something
- an offensive war
- offensive action
- He was charged with carrying an offensive weapon.
- (North American English, sport) connected with the team that has control of the ball; connected with the act of scoring points
- offensive play
- an offensive player/lineman/tackle
Word Originmid 16th cent.: from French offensif, -ive or medieval Latin offensivus, from Latin offens- ‘struck against’, from the verb offendere ‘strike against’.