Advertisement

View synonyms for

offend

[ uh-fend ]

verb (used with object)

  1. to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in:

    Even the hint of prejudice offends me.

    Synonyms: , , , ,

    Antonyms:

  2. to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
  3. to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).
  4. to hurt or cause pain to.
  5. (in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.


verb (used without object)

  1. to cause resentful displeasure; irritate, annoy, or anger:

    a remark so thoughtless it can only offend.

  2. to err in conduct; commit a sin, crime, or fault.

    Synonyms: ,

offend

/ əˈɛԻ /

verb

  1. to hurt the feelings, sense of dignity, etc, of (a person)
  2. tr to be disagreeable to; disgust

    the smell offended him

  3. intr except in archaic uses to break (a law or laws in general)
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Discover More

Derived Forms

  • ǴˈڱԻ徱Բ, adjective
  • ǴˈڱԻ, noun
Discover More

Other Word Forms

  • Ǵ·ڱԻ·· adjective
  • Ǵ·ڱԻ· noun
  • ··Ǵ·ڱԻ verb (used with object)
  • ·Ǵ·ڱԻ verb (used with object)
  • ·Ǵ·ڱԻ verb
  • un·Ǵ·ڱԻ·· adjective
  • ܲ·Ǵ·ڱԻ·Բ adjective
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of offend1

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English offenden, from Middle French offendre, from Latin offendere “to strike against, displease,” from of- of- + -fendere “to strike” ( bane ( def ) )
Discover More

Word History and Origins

Origin of offend1

C14: via Old French offendre to strike against, from Latin offendere, from ob- against + fendere to strike
Discover More

Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Of course, the onus should be on the offending party to confront their own biases and behaviors.

From

Ms Amess said Kneecap should contact her and apologise to her "and every other person that has been offended by this".

From

But Wallace says he was never aware he had offended her until it came to light last year, saying: "I thought we got on."

From

"We had proved that women were equal to men in magic. It looked ridiculous that they were offended by what we did and that we were thrown out of a magic club for deception."

From

They can't win the culture war, but they're going to use these lawsuits to spit in the face of all the queer people who offend them just by existing.

From

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement


offenceoffended