offensive
128
7.4
- noun
- /əˈfɛn.sɪv/
- The government began a major offensive on the MNR prior to the scheduled talks.
- launch an offensive
- a military offensive
- a major offensive
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Watch on YouTubeWe got the Philly offensive, we got Big Ed.
- We got the Philly offensive, we got Big Ed.
- In any case, the Red Army's offensive grinds to a halt.
- Our ancient scripts come up against the charm offensive and we press the accelerator.
- They may have some temporary, you know, ground gaining offensives, but they're not going to win.
- Well, then no counter offensive doesn't mean, you know, attacking Russia.
- The war was not won by by the combined bomber Offensive, although that did help enormously.
- That's my strong point as we're waiting for this new counter offensive.
Examples
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Will Britain be forced to appease Hitler's plans or face devastation from his offensive?
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A group of armies is forming on this front for an offensive very soon.
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Of course, there would be a new Italian offensive the next morning.
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We should begin the offensive.
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For the first time tonight, ladies and gentlemen, he is on the offensive.
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Our first major air offensive over Berlin.
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You see, the Germans are preparing another offensive in the city center.
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Ludendorff's spring offensive catches the Allies off guard.
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The second day of the Ardennes offensive, Mr. Zapiski suddenly appeared beside me.
Fiction book (1997) -
The military launched a surprise offensive at dawn, aiming to reclaim lost territory.
Synonyms
∞
1.4
A violent action that harms people or damages things
411
7.0
A military attack to destroy a specific target
379
3.2
Players who try to score points in a game
195
6.9
Fighting between soldiers in a war
118
3.7
An action by soldiers that involves fighting
100
6.9
Close fighting during the final part of a military attack
61
3.7
A planned action by armed forces to achieve a goal
41
7.6
A sudden violent attack, often by soldiers or severe weather
36
7.0
A long, heavy attack with bombs or large guns on a place
22
4.3
An attack made in response to an enemy's attack to regain lost ground
4
8.8
A large military attack by a defending army to push back attackers
4
8.4
A military attack where soldiers move from ships to land
2
6.8
An attack by an army in response to an enemy attack
1
8.1
An attack by soldiers from the sea onto land near the coast
1
7.4
An attack by soldiers on an enemy
Antonyms
Idioms
Compounds
1
9.9
A large Allied attack in World War I where American troops pushed German armies back
1
9.9
A large 1918 American attack led by General Pershing, the biggest US operation in World War I
How Intense
Surface Forms
Etymology
Offensive as a noun comes from the old Latin word offendere meaning 'to strike against'. That is why an offensive is a planned attack or series of attacks aimed at the enemy.