offend
[uh-fend]
- to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in: Even the hint of prejudice offends me.
- 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.
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- 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.
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Origin of offend
1275–1325; Middle English offenden < Middle French offendre < Latin offendere to strike against, displease, equivalent to of- of- + -fendere to strike
Synonyms
See more synonyms for offend on Thesaurus.com1. provoke, chafe, nettle, affront, insult. 7. transgress.
Antonyms
1. please.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for offend
Contemporary Examples
And could the word "Russkiy," or 'Russian', offend ethnically non-Russian citizens around the country?
Worried this might turn people off from his performance, Khan said he didn't intend to offend anyone.
But Alex Rubin cannot afford to offend any of the media willing to cover safely dead dissidents.
“This show is not an exercise to offend people,” McGruder countered.
That awkward moment when you wonder not just “Who did I just offend?”
The Case Against Cards Against Humanity: Is Max Temkin a Horrible Person? (Does It Matter?)Arthur Chu
July 29, 2014
Historical Examples
He did not offend very often, but one never knew when he might not.
Weighed and WantingGeorge MacDonald
"You do not offend, but you misunderstand me," said Belinda.
Tales And Novels, Volume 3 (of 10)Maria Edgeworth
Better not offend a fairy, even though no higher than a thimble!
Welsh Fairy TalesWilliam Elliott Griffis
I have been requested to take a holiday, and, rather than offend the powers that be, have given in.
The Slave Of The LampHenry Seton Merriman
But I will not offend fastidious ears with any syllable of my rougher tongue.
Ranald Bannerman's BoyhoodGeorge MacDonald
offend
- to hurt the feelings, sense of dignity, etc, of (a person)
- (tr) to be disagreeable to; disgustthe smell offended him
- (intr except in archaic uses) to break (a law or laws in general)
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Word Origin
C14: via Old French offendre to strike against, from Latin offendere, from ob- against + fendere to strike
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
Word Origin and History for offend
v.
early 14c., "to sin against (someone)," from Old French ofendre "transgress, antagonize," and directly from Latin offendere "to hit, strike against," figuratively "to stumble, commit a fault, displease, trespass against, provoke," from ob "against" (see ob-) + -fendere "to strike" (found only in compounds; see defend).
Meaning "to violate (a law), to make a moral false step, to commit a crime" is from late 14c. Meaning "to wound the feelings" is from late 14c. The literal sense of "to attack, assail" is attested from late 14c.; this has been lost in Modern English, but is preserved in offense and offensive. Related: Offended; offending.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper