Offensiveness

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  offensiveness
       n : the quality of being offensive [syn: {odiousness}, {distastefulness}]