OFFENSIVELY

Pronunciation (US):

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does offensively mean? 

• OFFENSIVELY (adverb)
  The adverb OFFENSIVELY has 3 senses:

1. in an unpleasantly offensive manner

2. in an obnoxious manner

3. in an aggressive manner

  Familiarity information: OFFENSIVELY used as an adverb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• OFFENSIVELY (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

In an unpleasantly offensive manner

Context example:

he smelled offensively unwashed

Antonym:

inoffensively (in a not unpleasantly offensive manner)

Pertainym:

offensive (unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses)

Sense 2

Meaning:

In an obnoxious manner

Synonyms:

objectionably; obnoxiously; offensively

Context example:

he said so in one of his more offensively intellectually arrogant sentences

Pertainym:

offensive (causing anger or annoyance)

Sense 3

Meaning:

In an aggressive manner

Context example:

the admiral intends to act offensively in the Mediterranean

Antonym:

defensively (in a defensive manner)

Pertainym:

offensive (for the purpose of attack rather than defense)

 Context examples 

Forgive me, sir: I did not mean to speak offensively; it is only because my loss is so recent.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

He brought out of the Yahoos’ kennel a piece of ass’s flesh; but it smelt so offensively that I turned from it with loathing: he then threw it to the Yahoo, by whom it was greedily devoured.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)

Sometimes they would fix upon my nose, or forehead, where they stung me to the quick, smelling very offensively; and I could easily trace that viscous matter, which, our naturalists tell us, enables those creatures to walk with their feet upwards upon a ceiling.

(Gulliver's Travels into several remote nations of the world, by Jonathan Swift)