offensive
- adjective
- /əˈfɛnsɪv/
- The garbage can emits an offensive smell that makes it hard to stay nearby.
- an offensive odor
It's sweet, but it's not offensive or overpowering at all.
- It's sweet, but it's not offensive or overpowering at all.
Examples
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These rags he's wearing give off a stench that's offensive to the dignity of this tribunal.
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We have complaints of offensive smells from two vans on the restaurant premises.
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A clock is a terribly offensive gift in Chinese culture.
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Ellen, stop making that offensive noise!
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After years of hair-loathing, my furriness was no longer offensive to me.
Fiction book (2001) -
"Stepping through the door, Marissa was immediately assaulted by the offensive odor of the autopsy room.
Fiction book (1991) -
He found the movie's graphic violence offensive and left the theater early.
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Many people find the offensive odor from the fish market intolerable.
Synonyms
Causing a strong feeling of dislike or making you feel sick
Very dirty and covered with things that smell bad
Very unpleasant and making you feel sick or disgusted
Not nice and causing discomfort or unhappiness
Very unpleasant in a way that makes people angry or upset
Having a very bad smell
Causing strong dislike or disgust, like a very bad smell
A very unpleasant thing that shocks or disgusts you
That causes a strong feeling of wanting to vomit or of disgust
Very unpleasant and morally wrong to most people
Causing people to feel offended or want to protest
Something that makes people feel dislike or disgust
Having a very bad smell or taste
Causing strong dislike or disgust because people see it as morally wrong
Not pleasant to taste or smell
Making people feel sick or want to throw up
A very strong stink that makes you want to move away
Very unpleasant and likely to make you feel disgusted
Causing strong dislike or disgust
Causing pain or discomfort to body parts like skin and eyes
A smell or taste that makes you feel sick
A very strong, unpleasant smell that can make you ill
Having a bad smell that people do not like
That has a strong, unpleasant odor
Having a very strong unpleasant smell or taste
Causing a strong feeling of dislike or making people feel sick
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
A large 1918 American attack led by General Pershing, the biggest US operation in World War I
A large Allied attack in World War I where American troops pushed German armies back
How Disgusting
Surface Forms
Morphology
Etymology
Offensive comes from the old Latin word offendere meaning 'to strike against'. Think of a bad smell that 'hits' your nose and makes you feel sick or disgusted — that is why we call a smell or taste offensive to the senses.