offensive

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "offensive" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when referring to something that is seen as rude, disrespectful, or unacceptable. For example: "The comments made by the speaker were deemed offensive by those in attendance."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It's offensive".

The Guardian - Sport

It is a crime under the Act to send "by means of a public electronic communications network" a message or other material that is "grossly offensive or of an indecent, obscene or menacing character".

The Guardian - Books

He is one of the league's brightest young talents and was NFL offensive rookie of the year last season.

The Guardian - Sport

The kids won't get it, or someone will find it offensive.

The Guardian

Unsurprisingly, the Badr Brigades were left untouched by Maliki's offensive.

The Guardian - Opinion

A growth in measures against "offensive" speech and greater surveillance of media under the guise of combatting terrorism are also documented in the report, which was written by Shawn Crispin.

The Guardian

"There's nothing offensive about Cathy – she's kind and articulate.

The Guardian

In the UK, a Spectator blog by Nick Cohen "said everything I would wish to say better than I could say it", wrote Rushdie in retweeting a link; and Jo Glanville, director of English PEN, argued that the works at issue in historical "free speech battles" had often been offensive or of "no merit".

The Guardian - Books

That said, some folk might argue that if you're happy to publicly refer to yourself as a 'Spurs fan', it's difficult to imagine how you could find any other label more demeaning, offensive or derogatory.

The Guardian - Sport

The air strike on Tuesday came while Niger is involved in a regional offensive against Boko Haram fighters, who have waged a six-year insurgency that has killed more than 13,000 people.

The Guardian

But even board game players need to know how to launch an offensive at some stage.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Consider your audience when using the word "offensive". What might be considered "offensive" in one context may not be in another. Be mindful of cultural sensitivities and diverse perspectives.

Common error

Avoid simply labeling something as "offensive" without explaining why. This can lead to misunderstandings and may not effectively communicate your point. Always provide context or reasoning to support your assessment.

Linguistic Context

The word "offensive" primarily functions as an adjective, modifying nouns to describe something that causes displeasure, anger, or resentment. As Ludwig AI confirms, it is grammatically sound and commonly used. Examples include "offensive remarks" or "offensive behavior".

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

70%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

5%

Less common in

Social Media

3%

Reference

2%

Wiki

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "offensive" is a common adjective used to describe something that causes displeasure, anger, or resentment. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness and widespread use. As analyzed, it functions primarily to express disapproval or criticism. The usage is generally neutral in tone, making it suitable for various contexts, although it appears most frequently in news and media. When using the word "offensive", it's crucial to provide context and consider your audience to avoid misunderstandings. Alternatives like "insulting" or "disrespectful" may be more appropriate depending on the specific situation.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

highly objectionable

Indicates a strong level of disapproval or causing offense; focuses on the characteristic of being something to which strong objections may be raised.

deeply insulting

Emphasizes the harm caused to someone's pride or dignity; conveys a sense of profound disrespect or humiliation.

blatantly disrespectful

Highlights the evident and open lack of respect shown; stresses the conspicuous nature of the disrespect.

patently inappropriate

Focuses on the evident unsuitability or unseemliness of something; underscores the obvious nature of the impropriety.

thoroughly distasteful

Emphasizes the unpleasant or disagreeable nature; conveys a strong sense of aversion or dislike.

egregiously impolite

Stresses the strikingly bad or shocking nature of the impoliteness; highlights the extreme departure from expected social norms.

utterly appalling

Expresses a sense of shock and disgust; suggests that something is completely unacceptable or deeply disturbing.

downright outrageous

Highlights the extreme and unacceptable nature of something; conveys a sense of being beyond the bounds of what is permissible or tolerable.

particularly galling

Emphasizes the irritating or annoying nature; suggests that something is especially exasperating or provoking.

exceptionally irritating

Focuses on the capacity to provoke impatience, anger, or displeasure; stresses the unusually high degree of annoyance.

FAQs

How to use "offensive" in a sentence?

You can use "offensive" to describe something that causes displeasure or resentment. For example, "The comedian's jokes were deemed "offensive" by many audience members" or "The company issued an apology for the "offensive" advertisement".

What can I say instead of "offensive"?

Depending on the context, you can use alternatives like "insulting", "disrespectful", "objectionable", or "inappropriate".

When is something considered "offensive"?

Something is considered "offensive" when it violates social norms, cultural sensitivities, or personal values, causing feelings of anger, disgust, or disrespect. It's subjective and varies from person to person and context to context.

What's the difference between "offensive" and "harmful"?

"Offensive" refers to something that causes displeasure or resentment, while "harmful" implies causing actual damage or injury. Something can be "offensive" without being directly harmful, and vice versa. For instance, a rude comment might be "offensive", while spreading false information can be "harmful".