Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense offends, present participle offending, past tense, past participle offended
1. verb
If you offend someone, you say or do something rude which upsets or embarrasses them.
He apologizes for his comments and says he had no intention of offending the community. [VERB noun]
The survey found almost 90 percent of people were offended by strong swearwords. [beVERB-ed]
Television censors are cutting out scenes which they claim may offend. [VERB]
Synonyms: distress, upset, outrage, pain More Synonyms of offend
offendedadjective [verb-link ADJECTIVE]
She is terribly offended, angered and hurt by this.
Synonyms: upset, pained, hurt, bothered More Synonyms of offend
2. verb
To offendagainst a law, rule, or principle means to break it.
[formal]
This bill offends against good sense and against justice. [VERB + against]
The peak age for offending the law is between 15 and 25. [VERB noun]
3. verb [no cont]
If someone offends, they commit a crime.
[formal]
In Western countries girls are far less likely to offend than boys. [VERB]
More Synonyms of offend
offend in British English
(əˈfɛnd)
verb
1.
to hurt the feelings, sense of dignity, etc, of (a person)
2. (transitive)
to be disagreeable to; disgust
the smell offended him
3. (intr except in archaic uses)
to break (a law or laws in general)
Derived forms
offender (ofˈfender)
noun
offending (ofˈfending)
adjective
Word origin
C14: via Old French offendre to strike against, from Latin offendere, from ob- against + fendere to strike
offend in American English
(əˈfɛnd)
verb intransitive
1.
to break a law, religious commandment, etc.; commit a sin or crime
2.
to create resentment, anger, or displeasure; give offense
verb transitive
3.
to hurt the feelings of; cause to feel resentful, angry, or displeased; insult
4.
to be displeasing to (the taste, sense, etc.)
5. Obsolete
a.
to transgress; violate
b.
to cause to sin
SYNONYMY NOTE: offend implies a causing displeasure or resentment in another, intentionally or unintentionally,by wounding his or her feelings or by a breach of his or her sense of propriety [she will be offended if she is not invited]; affront implies open and deliberate disrespect or offense [to affront someone's modesty]; insult implies an affront so insolent or contemptuously rude as to cause deep humiliationand resentment [to insult someone by calling him a liar]; outrage implies an extreme offense against someone's sense of right, justice, propriety,etc. [he was outraged by the offer of a bribe]
Derived forms
offender (ofˈfender)
noun
Word origin
ME offenden < OFr offendre < L offendere, to strike against < ob- (see ob-) + fendere, to hit, strike: see defend
Examples of 'offend' in a sentence
offend
People put you in a box and are then almost personally offended when you act outside it.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
When people leave prison they ought to be less likely to offend than when they come in.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Lenders need to offend less and understand more.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Helping them realise they are human beings with responsibility towards others makes them less likely to offend.
The Sun (2011)
Electric racing is far less likely to offend.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
It doesn't hurt to be offended now and then.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It's easy to see the way that those evils hurt and offend people.
Christianity Today (2000)
But if they were actually hurt and offended, who could they possibly complain to?
The Sun (2009)
Mrs. Rachel got up with an air of offended dignity.
LM Montgomery Anne of Green Gables (1872)
In other languages
offend
British English: offend /əˈfɛnd/ VERB
If you offend someone, you upset or embarrass them.
I'm sorry if I offended you.
Television censors are cutting out scenes which they claim may offend.
American English: offend
Arabic: يُسيِءُ إِلَى
Brazilian Portuguese: ofender
Chinese: 犯罪
Croatian: uvrijediti
Czech: urazit
Danish: fornærme
Dutch: beledigen
European Spanish: ofender
Finnish: loukata
French: offusquer
German: beleidigen
Greek: θίγω
Italian: offendere
Japanese: 不快感を与える
Korean: 위반하다
Norwegian: fornærme
Polish: obrazić
European Portuguese: ofender
Romanian: a ofensa
Russian: оскорбить
Latin American Spanish: ofender
Swedish: förnärma
Thai: ทำให้ขุ่นเคือง
Turkish: gücendirmek
Ukrainian: ображати
Vietnamese: xúc phạm
Chinese translation of 'offend'
offend
(əˈfɛnd)
vt
(= upset) 得罪 (dézuì)
vi
(= commit an offence) 犯罪 (fànzuì)
to offend against[law, rule]违(違)反 (wéifǎn)
1 (verb)
Definition
to hurt the feelings of (a person)
I had no intention of offending the community.
Synonyms
distress
I did not want to frighten or distress her.
upset
She warned me not to say anything to upset him.
outrage
Many people have been outraged by these comments.
pain
wound
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.
slight
provoke
I didn't want to do anything to provoke him.
insult
I didn't mean to insult you.
annoy
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
irritate
Their attitude irritates me.
put down
dismay
snub
aggravate (informal)
What aggravates you most about this country?
gall
It was their smugness that galled her most.
agitate
The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.
ruffle
My refusal to let him ruffle me infuriated him.
disconcert
vex
Everything about that man vexes me.
affront
One example that particularly affronted him was at the world championships.
displease
He did not wish to displease her.
rile
Cancellations rarely riled him.
pique
She was piqued by his lack of enthusiasm.
give offence
hurt (someone's) feelings
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang)
cut to the quick
miff (informal)
tread on (someone's) toes (informal)
piss you off (taboo, slang)
put (someone's) nose out of joint
put (someone's) back up
disgruntle
get (someone's) goat (slang)
hack someone off (informal)
Opposites
please
,
delight
,
soothe
,
appease
,
placate
,
assuage
,
mollify
,
conciliate
2 (verb)
Definition
to be disagreeable to
The smell of smoke offends me.
Synonyms
disgust
He disgusted everyone with his boorish behaviour.
revolt
He entirely revolts me.
turn (someone) off (informal)
put off
sicken
What he saw there sickened him, despite years of police work.
repel
excitement which frightened and repelled her
repulse
The thought of it repulsed me.
nauseate
The smell of sardines nauseates me. I don't understand why people like them.
gross out (slang)
make (someone) sick
turn someone's stomach
be disagreeable to
fill with loathing
3 (verb)
Definition
to commit a crime
alleged criminals who offend while on bail
Synonyms
break the law
sin
They charged him with sinning against God and man.
err
If he errs again there will be serious consequences.
do wrong
fall
fall from grace
go astray
Additional synonyms
in the sense of affront
Definition
to hurt someone's pride or dignity
One example that particularly affronted him was at the world championships.
Synonyms
offend,
anger,
provoke,
outrage,
insult,
annoy,
vex,
displease,
pique,
put or get your back up,
slight
in the sense of aggravate
Definition
to annoy
What aggravates you most about this country?
Synonyms
annoy,
bother,
provoke,
needle (informal),
irritate,
tease,
hassle (informal),
gall,
exasperate,
nettle,
pester,
vex,
irk,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
be on your back (slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub (someone) up the wrong way (informal),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of agitate
Definition
to excite, disturb, or trouble
The thought of them inheriting all these things agitated her.
Synonyms
upset,
worry,
trouble,
disturb,
excite,
alarm,
stimulate,
distract,
rouse,
ruffle,
inflame,
incite,
unnerve,
disconcert,
disquiet,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
work someone up,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
arouse,
ferment
Synonyms of 'offend'
offend
Explore 'offend' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of annoy
Definition
to irritate or displease
Try making a note of the things that annoy you.
Synonyms
irritate,
trouble,
bore,
anger,
harry,
bother,
disturb,
provoke,
get (informal),
bug (informal),
needle (informal),
plague,
tease,
harass,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
badger,
gall,
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
molest,
pester,
vex,
displease,
irk,
bedevil,
rile,
peeve,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub someone up the wrong way (informal),
get your goat (slang),
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (British, slang),
get your dander up (informal),
get your back up,
incommode (formal),
put your back up,
hack you off (informal),
be on your back (slang)
in the sense of displease
Definition
to annoy or offend (someone)
He did not wish to displease her.
Synonyms
annoy,
upset,
anger,
provoke,
offend,
irritate,
put out,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
incense,
gall,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
irk,
rile,
pique,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
dissatisfy,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of err
Definition
to sin
If he errs again there will be serious consequences.
Synonyms
sin,
fall,
offend,
lapse,
trespass,
do wrong,
deviate,
misbehave,
go astray,
transgress,
be out of order,
blot your copybook (informal)
in the sense of gall
Definition
to annoy or irritate
It was their smugness that galled her most.
Synonyms
annoy,
provoke,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
get (informal),
trouble,
bother,
disturb,
plague,
madden,
ruffle,
exasperate,
nettle,
vex,
displease,
irk,
rile (informal),
peeve (informal),
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
get up your nose (informal),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub up the wrong way,
get on your wick (British, slang),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of insult
Definition
to treat or speak to rudely
I didn't mean to insult you.
Synonyms
offend,
abuse,
injure,
wound,
slight,
outrage,
put down,
humiliate,
libel,
snub,
slag (off) (slang),
malign,
affront,
denigrate,
disparage,
revile,
slander,
displease,
defame,
hurt (someone's) feelings,
call names,
give offence to,
miscall (dialect)
in the sense of irritate
Definition
to annoy or anger (someone)
Their attitude irritates me.
Synonyms
annoy,
anger,
bother,
provoke,
offend,
needle (informal),
harass,
infuriate,
aggravate (informal),
incense,
fret,
enrage,
gall,
ruffle,
inflame,
exasperate,
nettle,
pester,
vex,
irk,
pique,
rankle with,
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
drive you up the wall (slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
rub you up the wrong way (informal),
get your goat (slang),
try your patience,
get in your hair (informal),
get on your wick (informal),
get your dander up (informal),
raise your hackles,
get your back up,
get your hackles up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of nark
Definition
to annoy
Synonyms
annoy,
bother,
provoke,
bug (informal),
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
exasperate,
nettle,
irk,
rile,
pique,
peeve,
get on your nerves (informal),
miff (informal),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of nauseate
Definition
to arouse feelings of disgust in (someone)
The smell of sardines nauseates me. I don't understand why people like them.
Synonyms
disgust,
offend,
horrify,
revolt,
repel,
repulse,
gross out (slang)
in the sense of outrage
Definition
to cause deep indignation, anger, or resentment in (someone)
Many people have been outraged by these comments.
Synonyms
offend,
shock,
upset,
pain,
wound,
provoke,
insult,
infuriate,
incense,
gall,
madden,
vex,
affront,
displease,
rile,
scandalize,
give offence,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
cut to the quick,
make your blood boil,
piss you off (taboo, slang),
put (someone's) nose out of joint,
put (someone's) back up,
disgruntle
in the sense of pique
Definition
to hurt (someone's) pride
She was piqued by his lack of enthusiasm.
Synonyms
displease,
wound,
provoke,
annoy,
get (informal),
sting,
offend,
irritate,
put out,
incense,
gall,
nettle,
vex,
affront,
mortify,
irk,
rile,
peeve (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
put someone's nose out of joint (informal),
miff (informal),
hack off (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of provoke
Definition
to deliberately act in a way intended to anger someone
I didn't want to do anything to provoke him.
Synonyms
anger,
insult,
annoy,
offend,
irritate,
infuriate,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
incense,
enrage,
gall,
put someone out,
madden,
exasperate,
vex,
affront,
chafe,
irk,
rile,
pique,
get on someone's nerves (informal),
get someone's back up,
piss someone off (taboo, slang),
put someone's back up,
try someone's patience,
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
make someone's blood boil,
get in someone's hair (informal),
rub someone up the wrong way,
hack someone off (informal)
in the sense of repel
Definition
to cause (someone) to feel disgusted
excitement which frightened and repelled her
Synonyms
disgust,
offend,
revolt,
sicken,
nauseate,
put you off,
make you sick,
gross you out (US, slang),
turn you off (informal),
make you shudder,
turn your stomach,
give you the creeps (informal)
in the sense of repulse
Definition
to be disgusting to
The thought of it repulsed me.
Synonyms
disgust,
offend,
revolt,
put off,
sicken,
repel,
nauseate,
gross out (US, slang),
turn your stomach,
fill with loathing
in the sense of revolt
Definition
to cause to feel disgust
He entirely revolts me.
Synonyms
disgust,
offend,
turn off (informal),
sicken,
repel,
repulse,
nauseate,
gross out (slang),
shock,
turn your stomach,
make your flesh creep,
give you the creeps (informal)
in the sense of rile
Definition
to annoy or anger
Cancellations rarely riled him.
Synonyms
anger,
upset,
provoke,
bug (informal),
annoy,
irritate,
aggravate (informal),
gall,
nettle,
vex,
irk,
pique,
peeve (informal),
get under your skin (informal),
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
piss you off (taboo, slang),
get your goat (slang),
try your patience,
rub you up the wrong way,
get or put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
in the sense of ruffle
Definition
to annoy or irritate
My refusal to let him ruffle me infuriated him.
Synonyms
annoy,
worry,
trouble,
upset,
confuse,
stir,
disturb,
rattle (informal),
irritate,
put out,
unsettle,
shake up (informal),
harass,
hassle (informal),
agitate,
unnerve,
disconcert,
disquiet,
nettle,
vex,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
peeve (informal),
hack off (informal)
in the sense of sicken
Definition
to make (someone) feel nauseated or disgusted
What he saw there sickened him, despite years of police work.
Synonyms
disgust,
revolt,
nauseate,
repel,
gross out (slang),
turn your stomach,
make your gorge rise
in the sense of sin
Definition
to commit a sin
They charged him with sinning against God and man.
Synonyms
transgress,
offend,
lapse,
err,
trespass (archaic),
fall from grace,
go astray,
commit a sin,
do wrong
in the sense of upset
Definition
to disturb mentally or emotionally
She warned me not to say anything to upset him.
Synonyms
distress,
trouble,
disturb,
worry,
alarm,
bother,
dismay,
grieve,
hassle (informal),
agitate,
ruffle,
unnerve,
disconcert,
disquiet,
fluster,
perturb,
faze,
throw someone off balance,
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
discompose
in the sense of vex
Definition
to cause (someone) to feel annoyance or irritation
Everything about that man vexes me.
Synonyms
annoy,
bother,
irritate,
worry,
trouble,
upset,
disturb,
distress,
provoke,
bug (informal),
offend,
needle (informal),
plague,
put out,
tease,
torment,
harass,
hassle (informal),
aggravate (informal),
afflict,
fret,
gall,
agitate,
exasperate,
nettle,
pester,
displease,
rile,
pique,
peeve (informal),
grate on,
get on your nerves (informal),
nark (British, Australian, New Zealand, slang),
give someone grief (British, South Africa),
get your back up,
put your back up,
hack you off (informal)
Additional synonyms
in the sense of wound
Definition
to cause an injury to the body or feelings of
He was deeply wounded by the treachery of his closest friends.