offensive
gb/əfˈɛnsɪv/ us/əfˈɛnsɪv/
B1
Inglês
~ 6300
Aceções
0 aceções
adjective
B1
property
1
rude or insulting; causes offense
Making people feel angry or hurt because it is rude or not respectful.
Padrão de uso:
[something] is offensive to [someone/group]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes confuse "offensive" with "offence/offense". "Offensive" is an adjective (e.g., "an offensive comment"), while "offense" is a noun (e.g., "He took offense at the comment"). Another confusion is using "offensive" when they mean "aggressive" in a neutral sense; "offensive" usually includes a strong negative, rude, or morally wrong feeling in this sense.
Sinónimos
insulting (Focuses more directly on attacking someone’s dignity or pride.)
|
off-color (Informal; often used for jokes that are rude or sexual rather than generally disrespectful.)
Antónimos
inoffensive (Suggests something is harmless and unlikely to upset anyone.)
|
respectful (Emphasizes showing regard and politeness instead of causing hurt.)
Colocações
offensive language
|offensive joke
|deeply offensive
|sexually offensive
|racially offensive
|find [something] offensive
Temas
social
|emotions
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Exemplos
- Many people found the comedian’s remarks deeply offensive.
- Using that word to describe women is offensive and outdated.
- The company removed the ad after complaints that it was racially offensive.
- Please tell me if any of the content is offensive to you.
- He apologized for his offensive comments on social media.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- Some jokes are funny, but some are offensive.
- That word is very offensive to many people.
- She stopped the movie because the language was offensive.
- His email was short and quite offensive.
- The teacher said racist words are offensive in this class.
adjective
B2
property
2
used for or involving attack
Used for attacking, not for defending, for example in war or in sport.
Padrão de uso:
offensive [strategy/weapon/play]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes mix up this meaning with the "rude/insulting" meaning. In sports or military news, "offensive" usually means "attacking, not defending," not "rude." Also, learners sometimes say "attackive" instead of "offensive"; English does not use *attackive*.
Sinónimos
attacking (Very close in meaning, especially in sports; slightly more general and common in everyday speech.)
|
aggressive (Focuses more on forceful attitude or behavior; may or may not involve a formal attack plan.)
Antónimos
defensive (Describes actions or equipment used mainly to protect rather than to attack.)
Colocações
offensive strategy
|offensive weapon
|offensive line
|offensive player
|offensive capabilities
|offensive operations
Temas
sports
|military
|conflict
|law
Exemplos
- The general ordered a new offensive strategy along the eastern border.
- Their offensive line protected the quarterback well throughout the game.
- The country denies having any offensive chemical weapons.
- The coach wants the team to play a more offensive style of football.
- Cyber units now have both defensive and offensive capabilities.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- They changed to a stronger offensive plan in the second half.
- The team needs better offensive players to score more goals.
- The army prepared for an offensive attack at dawn.
- That country says its missiles are not offensive weapons.
- The coach likes fast, offensive football.
adjective
B2
property
3
disgusting to smell or taste
Very bad and unpleasant to the nose or mouth, for example a smell or taste.
Padrão de uso:
offensive [smell/odor/taste]
Erro comum:
Learners may choose only general words like "bad" or "dirty" for strong smells. "Offensive" in this sense is stronger and suggests that the smell or taste is so bad it almost feels like an attack. Also, some learners confuse this with the "rude" meaning; context with words like "smell" or "odor" usually shows it is about the senses.
Sinónimos
foul (Strongly suggests a dirty, rotten, or unhealthy smell or taste.)
|
disgusting (More general; can describe anything that strongly turns your stomach, not just smell or taste.)
Antónimos
pleasant (Describes a smell or taste that is nice and enjoyable.)
|
fragrant (Specifically refers to a sweet or pleasant smell, often of flowers or food.)
Colocações
offensive odor
|offensive smell
|offensive fumes
|highly offensive
|offensive stench
Temas
daily_life
|health
|senses
|food_drink
Exemplos
- An offensive odor came from the trash bins behind the restaurant.
- The chemical spill produced an offensive smell that spread across the neighborhood.
- He pushed the plate away, saying the fish had an offensive taste.
- Residents complained about the offensive fumes from the factory.
- The room was hot, dark, and filled with an offensive stench.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- There was an offensive smell in the bathroom.
- We opened the window to let the offensive odor out.
- The milk had an offensive taste, so I threw it away.
- The garbage became offensive in the summer heat.
- They used air freshener to cover the offensive smell.
Nome
C1
event
4
large planned attack or campaign
A big, planned attack in a war, or a strong, organized effort to do something.
Padrão de uso:
launch/mount an offensive against [enemy/target]
Erro comum:
Learners sometimes think "offensive" is always an adjective. In military and news contexts, it is often a noun meaning a large attack, usually used with verbs like "launch" or "begin". Another confusion is with "offense" (US spelling of "offence"); "offensive" here specifically names the campaign itself.
Sinónimos
campaign (Broader; can be military, political, or marketing, and does not always include open attack.)
|
assault (Implies a very strong, often short and violent attack, rather than a longer campaign.)
Antónimos
defense (Refers to actions taken to protect against an attack, rather than to attack.)
Colocações
launch an offensive
|military offensive
|spring offensive
|offensive against corruption
|marketing offensive
Temas
military
|politics
|business
|law
Exemplos
- Government forces have launched a major offensive against the rebels.
- The spring offensive caught the enemy by surprise.
- The company has begun an aggressive advertising offensive to win back customers.
- They are planning a new offensive against online fraud.
- After months of preparation, the offensive lasted only two weeks.
Exemplos para aprendentes
- The army started an offensive early in the morning.
- Both sides were tired after the long offensive.
- The government began an offensive against drug crime.
- The company’s new offensive won many new buyers.
- The offensive failed, and the troops returned home.
Gramática
Forma de dicionário
offensive
IPA
GB/əfˈɛnsɪv/
US/əfˈɛnsɪv/
Sílabas e acento
of - fens - ive (3 sílabas)
Stress on 2nd syllable (fens)
Formas da palavra
Adjective
- Base: offensive
Noun
- Base: offensive
- Plural: offensives
Família de palavras
Expressões
go on the offensive
1/ɡˈoʊ ˈɔn ðə əfˈɛnsɪv/
fixed phrase
start attacking or criticizing
To start attacking or criticizing someone or something in an active and strong way.
Exemplos
- The candidate went on the offensive after new polls showed her behind.
- Environmental groups have gone on the offensive against the new law.
- Realizing they were losing, they went on the offensive and scored three quick goals.
on the offensive
1/ˈɔn ðə əfˈɛnsɪv/
fixed phrase
actively attacking, not defending
Actively attacking or criticizing instead of only trying to defend yourself.
Exemplos
- The team was on the offensive for most of the second half.
- After weeks of criticism, the minister went on television on the offensive.
- Once the company went on the offensive, its competitors quickly lost market share.
take the offensive
1/tˈeɪk ðə əfˈɛnsɪv/
fixed phrase
decide to attack instead of defend
To decide to attack or criticize instead of only answering the other side’s attacks.
Exemplos
- The general decided to take the offensive before winter arrived.
- If the company takes the offensive now, it might control the whole market.
- The coach told his players to take the offensive in the final minutes.