Offensive, like sailor embracing superior (7)
I believe the answer is:
assault
'offensive' is the definition.
('assault' can be similar in meaning to 'offensive')
'like sailor embracing superior' is the wordplay.
'like' becomes 'as'.
'sailor' becomes 'salt' (salt is a kind of sailor**).
'embracing' is an insertion indicator.
'superior' becomes 'u' (I've seen this in other clues).
'salt' placed around 'u' is 'sault'.
'as'+'sault'='ASSAULT'
(Other definitions for assault that I've seen before include "Launch an attack on" , "set about" , "offensive" , "Lash" , "Onslaught" .)