1.
2.
[syn: offensively, objectionably, obnoxiously]
3. in an aggressive manner;
- Example: "`In this crisis, we must act offensively,' the President said"
- Example: "the admiral intends to act offensively in the Mediterranean"
The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:
Offensive \Of*fen"sive\, a. [Cf. F. offensif. See Offend.]
[1913 Webster]
1. Giving offense; causing displeasure or resentment;
displeasing; annoying; as, offensive words.
[1913 Webster]
2. Giving pain or unpleasant sensations; disagreeable;
revolting; noxious; as, an offensive smell; offensive
sounds. "Offensive to the stomach." --Bacon.
[1913 Webster]
3. Making the first attack; assailant; aggressive; hence,
used in attacking; -- opposed to defensive; as, an
offensive war; offensive weapons.
[1913 Webster]
League offensive and defensive, a leaque that requires all
the parties to it to make war together against any foe,
and to defend one another if attacked.
[1913 Webster]
Syn: Displeasing; disagreeable; distasteful; obnoxious;
abhorrent; disgusting; impertinent; rude; saucy;
reproachful; opprobrious; insulting; insolent; abusive;
scurrilous; assailant; attacking; invading.
[1913 Webster] -- Of*fen"sive*ly, adv. --
Of*fen"sive*ness, n.
[1913 Webster]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):
offensively
adv 1: in an unpleasantly offensive manner; "he smelled
offensively unwashed" [ant: inoffensively]
2: in an obnoxious manner; "he said so in one of his more
offensively intellectually arrogant sentences" [syn:
offensively, objectionably, obnoxiously]
3: in an aggressive manner; "`In this crisis, we must act
offensively,' the President said"; "the admiral intends to
act offensively in the Mediterranean" [ant: defensively]