be offensive

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

There was also the news that council districts in Northern England had instructed schoolteachers not to encourage children in classrooms to draw any pictures that might be offensive to Muslims.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 16, 2026

Offensive line coach Zach Hanson was pursued heavily by his alma mater, Kansas State, to be offensive coordinator under new coach Collin Klein, who Hanson considers to be one of his closest friends.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 13, 2026

The Booker-winning novelist has previously expressed his opposition to "sensitivity readers", the practice of hiring someone to read a manuscript before its publication in order to point out things that might be offensive to readers.

From BBC • Sep. 8, 2025

Spectrum WT sued, arguing that drag wasn’t designed to be offensive and portraying it as a celebration of many things, including “queerness, gender, acceptance, love and especially femininity.”

From Seattle Times • Mar. 15, 2024

"I am trying to believe that you did not mean to be offensive," she said.

From The Streets of Ascalon Episodes in the Unfinished Career of Richard Quarren, Esqre. by Chambers, Robert W. (Robert William)