offend
verb
of·fend ə-ˈfend 
offended; offending; offends
intransitive verb
1
a
: to transgress (see transgress sense transitive 1) the moral or divine law : sin
if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare b
: to violate a law or rule : do wrong
offend against the law
2
a
: to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury
took off his shoe and removed the offending pebble
b
: to cause dislike, anger, or vexation
thoughtless words that offend needlessly
transitive verb
1
a
: violate, transgress
a contract not offending a statute … might still be in restraint of trade C. A. Cooke
C. A. Cooke b
: to cause pain to : hurt
tasteless billboards that offend the eye
2
obsolete : to cause to sin or fall
3
: to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done
was offended by their language
She carefully worded her comments so as not to offend anyone.
offender noun
Synonyms
- err
- fall
- sin
- stray
- transgress
- trespass
- wander
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
His comments about minority groups offended many of us. She had carefully worded her comments so as not to offend anyone. It offends me that you would make such a remark. Don't worry. I wasn't offended. I felt a little offended by their lack of respect. Some people are offended by the song's lyrics. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you. I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend. See More
Recent Examples on the Web No one has a right to maim or kill someone because our words offend them. Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022 Until recently, the idea of the U.S. and Japan fighting together to help Taiwan beat back a Chinese invasion was more of a theoretical notion, and Japan was often at pains not to offend China, its biggest trading partner. Peter Landers, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 Even live, Berens (largely) eschewed expletives and explicit topics (beyond some PG-13-level innuendo), and his playful ribbing wouldn't offend anybody. Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2022 And with all the belt-tightening and revenue-seeking going on at Netflix, saying no to a crazy-expensive sequel might not even offend the artists involved. John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 July 2022 The painter’s depictions of prostitutes and drunks living in miserable poverty offend the aesthetics of Norway’s art establishment and challenge the canon to the point of sabotaging his rediscovery. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Apr. 2022 For the design-obsessed, there are also plenty of aesthetically pleasing fans out there that won't offend your exacting eye. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 27 June 2022 Without the burden of respectability, of shouldering stories for an entire community, the show is free to be light, frothy, melodramatic, and unafraid to offend. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 29 July 2022 The very question of affordability seemed to offend him. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 30 June 2022 See More
Adam Gopnik, The New Yorker, 13 Aug. 2022 Until recently, the idea of the U.S. and Japan fighting together to help Taiwan beat back a Chinese invasion was more of a theoretical notion, and Japan was often at pains not to offend China, its biggest trading partner. Peter Landers, WSJ, 5 Aug. 2022 Even live, Berens (largely) eschewed expletives and explicit topics (beyond some PG-13-level innuendo), and his playful ribbing wouldn't offend anybody. Piet Levy, Journal Sentinel, 11 Aug. 2022 And with all the belt-tightening and revenue-seeking going on at Netflix, saying no to a crazy-expensive sequel might not even offend the artists involved. John Defore, The Hollywood Reporter, 14 July 2022 The painter’s depictions of prostitutes and drunks living in miserable poverty offend the aesthetics of Norway’s art establishment and challenge the canon to the point of sabotaging his rediscovery. Leo Barraclough, Variety, 21 Apr. 2022 For the design-obsessed, there are also plenty of aesthetically pleasing fans out there that won't offend your exacting eye. Rachel Klein, Popular Mechanics, 27 June 2022 Without the burden of respectability, of shouldering stories for an entire community, the show is free to be light, frothy, melodramatic, and unafraid to offend. Lester Fabian Brathwaite, EW.com, 29 July 2022 The very question of affordability seemed to offend him. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 30 June 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English offenden "to assail, violate, displease, hurt the feelings of," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French offendre, borrowed from Latin offendere "to strike against, stumble (upon), trouble, break a rule, displease, annoy," from of-, assimilated variant of ob- ob- + -fendere presumably, "to strike, hit" (unattested without prefixes) — more at defend
First Known Use
14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a
Phrases Containing offend
Kids Definition
offend
verb
of·fend ə-ˈfend
offended; offending
1
: to hurt the feelings of or insult
She uses language that offends people.
2
: to do wrong
Is the released prisoner likely to offend again?
Legal Definition
offend
intransitive verb
of·fend ə-ˈfend
: to commit an offense
offended
verb
1
as in wandered
to commit an offense since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- wandered
- fell
- strayed
- trespassed
- sinned
- transgressed
- violated
- erred
- infringed
- fell from grace
- broke the law
- breached
- lapsed
- broke
- backslid
- messed up
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- justified
- forgave
- pardoned
- regretted
- repented
- rued
2
as in insulted
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in the visitor unintentionally offended his hosts terribly by failing to compliment them on the elaborately prepared meal Synonyms & Similar Words
- insulted
- outraged
- affronted
- upset
- displeased
- taunted
- disrespected
- hurt
- wounded
- disturbed
- slighted
- slapped
- mocked
- troubled
- dissed
- ridiculed
- miffed
- pained
- distressed
- snubbed
- oppressed
- jeered
- slandered
- defamed
- disparaged
- tortured
- maligned
- tormented
- libeled
- persecuted
- reviled
- smeared
- libelled
- cut
- slurred
- sneered (at)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- approved
- applauded
- flattered
- praised
- hailed
- complimented
- commended
- acclaimed
- honored
- eulogized
- pleased
- gratified
- delighted
- exalted
- satisfied
- adulated
- glorified
- sweet-talked
3
as in violated
to fail to keep offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code Synonyms & Similar Words
- violated
- broke
- traduced
- transgressed
- breached
- contravened
- ignored
- fractured
- disobeyed
- slighted
- disregarded
- rebelled
- dismissed
- infringed (on or upon)
- neglected
- scorned
- overlooked
- resisted
- blew off
- flouted
- passed over
- tuned out
- overpassed
- defied
- withstood
- pooh-poohed
- winked (at)
- shrugged off
- brushed (off)
- poohed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- observed
- followed
- served
- submitted (to)
- obeyed
- heard
- yielded (to)
- minded
- noticed
- conformed (to)
- regarded
- noted
- attended
- surrendered (to)
- deferred (to)
- watched
- complied (with)
- marked
- listened (to)
- heeded