offend
Americanverb (used with object)
-
offends,
present (3rd person singular)
-
offended,
past participle, past
-
offending
present participle
-
to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in.
Even the hint of prejudice offends me.
- Antonyms:
- please
-
to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
-
to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).
-
to hurt or cause pain to.
-
(in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.
verb (used without object)
-
offends,
present (3rd person singular)
-
offended,
past participle, past
-
offending
present participle
-
to cause resentful displeasure; irritate, annoy, or anger.
a remark so thoughtless it can only offend.
-
to err in conduct; commit a sin, crime, or fault.
- Synonyms:
- trespass, transgress
verb
-
to hurt the feelings, sense of dignity, etc, of (a person)
-
(tr) to be disagreeable to; disgust
the smell offended him
-
(intr except in archaic uses) to break (a law or laws in general)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
offendernoun
-
reoffendverb
-
overoffendverb (used with object)
-
preoffendverb (used with object)
-
offendableadjective
-
offendingadjective
-
unoffendableadjective
-
unoffendingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
offendsimple
-
offendssimple
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have offendedperfect
-
has offendedperfect
-
am offendingprogressive
-
are offendingprogressive
-
is offendingprogressive
-
have been offendingperfect progressive
-
has been offendingperfect progressive
Past
-
offendedsimple
-
had offendedperfect
-
was offendingprogressive
-
were offendingprogressive
-
had been offendingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of offend
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” ( see also bane ( def. ))
Explanation
If you hurt someone's feelings, you offend that person. You might accidentally offend your friend when you joke about the worst restaurant in town, not realizing it's her favorite place to eat. If you do something that makes another person resent you, you offend them. Your friends might not mind because you're so humble, but it could offend other classmates when the teachers always pick you for awards and honors. You also offend when you cause disgust or distaste. After your week of camping — and not showering — your smell will probably offend the nose of anyone who has to sit near you.
Vocabulary lists containing offend
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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.
See Examples For:
Now, that joke did actually offend plenty of people, while Obama’s joke offended zero people.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2026
As for the residual costs of exercising her right to offend back in 2017, Griffin confirmed that some of her shows still draw protesters.
From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026
But more than that, ‘Are we doing things that could actually offend them?’
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 28, 2026
I don’t care if the officers caught on tape didn’t intend to offend, and I don’t care what Hochman intends the message to be with his vast over-charging of Flores.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
Unless I’m very much mistaken, I think I’ve just managed to offend her.
From "Water for Elephants" by Sara Gruen
It characterized the injury as one arising from “offense, disagreement, or distaste” and reasoned that allowing such an interest to establish standing could permit citizens to challenge virtually any government project that offends their sensibilities.
From Slate ● Sep. 1, 2026
That number offends many people because they assume wealth must have been taken from someone else.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 26, 2026
"Crass content can be criticised if it offends you. However, you cannot have the state persecute and lock up people for offending your 'moral sentiments'," he wrote in a post on X.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2025
At the very least, that's not something that offends people.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2024
He sniffs, as though the very smell of me offends him.
From "The Cruel Prince" by Holly Black
Now, that joke did actually offend plenty of people, while Obama’s joke offended zero people.
From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2026
Social media is a colosseum of the recreationally offended, and the quickest way to get attention is to be mean and crude.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
You do whatever you want; I’m not offended by any of it.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026
Lula said the saint was "offended" by those who "do not respect" the religion of others, while Bolsonaro asserted his "respect for the faith of millions of Brazilians."
From Barron's ● Oct. 12, 2026
His brows come together, and he snorts like he is offended.
From "The Adoration of Jenna Fox" by Mary E. Pearson
Scotland Yard said the letter contained claims about offending outside the UK and that it had been forwarded to "the office of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex for their awareness".
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
London’s Metropolitan Police confirmed Saturday that it received a letter in January 2019 containing allegations of offending outside the United Kingdom.
From Salon ● Oct. 25, 2026
The apparent strategy is simple: say as little as possible and avoid offending anyone.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 23, 2026
The jury found that she had done the acts in relation to all five charges – including four counts of aiding and abetting her husband's offending.
From BBC ● Oct. 15, 2026
"You do? You feel no inner turmoil, no need to cast out the offending eye?"
From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
