The offensive meaning

Word Origin mid 16th century: from French offensif, -ive or medieval Latin offensivus, from Latin offens- ‘struck against’, from the verb offendere (see offend). What words are offensive? ATTACKING) Since the other side had taken offensive action (= attacked ), we had no choice but to defend ourselves.

Knives of any kind are classed as offensive weapons. They launched the land offensive in the middle of the night. UN troops have gone on the offensive (= started to attack).

Offensive definition: Something that is offensive upsets or embarrasses people because it is rude or insulting. The West African forces went on the offensive in response to attacks on them. The Foreign Secretary has decided to take the offensive in the discussion on the future of the community. To begin attacking someone or adopting an aggressive attitude or position as a means of gaining a pre-emptive advantage.

Definition of offense. His conduct is an offense to public decency. Such screaming is an offense to my ears. The Tet Offensive was a coordinated series of North Vietnamese attacks on more than 1cities and outposts in South Vietnam.

South Vietnamese forces managed to hold off the attacks, news coverage of the massive offensive shocked the American public and eroded support for the war effort.

Despite heavy casualties, North Vietnam achieved a strategic victory with the Tet Offensive , as the attacks marked a turning point in the Vietnam War and the beginning of the slow, painful American withdrawal from the region. See full list on history. Giap believed that the attacks would cause Army of the Republic of Vietnam (ARVN) forces to collapse and foment discontent and rebellion among the South Vietnamese population.

Marine garrison at Khe Sanh, located on the principal road from northern South Vietnam into Laos. As President Lyndon B. Johnson and General William Westmoreland focused their attention on the defense of Khe Sanh, Giaps 70poised to begin their true objective: the Tet Offensive. Westmoreland requested more than 200new troops in order to mount an effective counteroffensive, an escalation that many Americans saw as an act of desperation. Furthermore, Giap believed the alliance between South Vietnam and the United States was unstablehe hoped the offensive would drive the final wedge between them and convince American leaders to give up their defense of South Vietnam.

Though Giap had succeeded in achieving surprise, his forces were spread too thin in the ambitious offensive , and U. ARVN forces managed to successfully counter most of the attacks and inflict heavy Viet Cong losses. ARVN forces discovered evidence of the massacre after they regained control of the city on February 26. In addition to more than 8bodies, another 0residents were missing, and the occupying forces had destroyed many of the grand citys temples, palaces and other monuments. On the North Vietnamese side, an estimated 0soldiers were kille most of them hit by American air and artillery strikes. As anti-war sentiment mounted on the home front, some of Johnsons advisers that had supported past military buildup in Vietnam (including soon-to-be Secretary of Defense Clark Clifford) now argued for scaling back U. Though peace talks would drag on for another five yearsduring which more American soldiers were killed than in the previous years of the conflictJohnsons decision to halt escalation after the Tet Offensive marked a crucial turning point in American participation in the Vietnam War.

ATTACKING) used for attacking: Since the other side had taken offensive action (= attacked), we had no choice but to defend ourselves. Thesaurus: synonyms and related words. Violent or aggressive.

The definition of offensive is something likely to invoke feelings of hurt, anger, disgust, disapproval or revulsion, or is something associated with an aggressive attack. Calling someone an idiot is an example of a comment that would be described as offensive. Making a plan to attack a country is an example of planning an offensive attack. Causing someone to feel resentful, upset, or annoyed. More example sentences.

The film provoked controversy because of its use of offensive language, and was given an rating by film censors. In any context, on the offensive means on the attack. Defensive can mean anxiously challenging of all criticism. Offensive can mean not just attacking someone or something, but belching, insulting people, or otherwise not respecting common standards of behavior.

Familiarity information: OFFENSIVE used as a noun is very rare. English proverb) We will stay longer dead than poor (Breton proverb) The cure for fate is patience. Arabic proverb) He who lives fast goes straight to his death. Of, relating to, or designed for attack: offensive weapons. Sports Of or relating to a team having possession of a ball or puck: an offensive rush.

An attitude or position of attack: go on the offensive in chess. A physical or military attack or assault: led a massive military offensive. EXAMPLES FROM THE WEB FOR OFFENSIVE. But it is offensive to man, insulting to the atmosphere, and destructive of him who uses it. After much exercitation the Germans determined to adhere to the offensive.

Hanoi had launched the offensive in the belief that it would trigger a popular uprising leading to the collapse of the South Vietnamese government. The offensive was the largest military operation conducted by either side up to that point in the war.