Synonyms

offend

American

[uh-fend] / əˈfɛnd /

verb (used with object)

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

Even the hint of prejudice offends me.

Synonyms:

insult, affront, nettle, chafe, provoke

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)

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

offend British

/ əˈfɛnd /

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)

"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

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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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.

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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:

offend offends offended offending

Now, that joke did actually offend plenty of people, while Obama’s joke offended zero people.

From Slate ● Oct. 31, 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

Mr. Gervais, whose eagerness to offend has made him something of a polarizing comic commodity, isn’t doing anything here that will damage his brand as a provocateur.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 7, 2026

In its statement, Moygashel Bonfire Association said the display might "shock, offend or outrage", but said those involved in making it were exercising their right to freedom of expression.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

Some were friendly and some were not, and you tried not to offend either.

From "Invisible Man" by Ralph Ellison

Drinks giant Dongpeng, said: "Our company firmly opposes and has a zero-tolerance policy towards any behaviour that offends national sentiments."

From BBC ● Oct. 27, 2026

For many people, a lawn with leaves unblown or unraked offends their sensibilities.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025

At the very least, that's not something that offends people.

From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2024

Right now, platforms can take down vile and harmful content when it offends their terms of service.

From Slate ● Sep. 29, 2023

A middle-aged lady with a pointy nose and expensive trench coat scowls at me when I enter the lobby, like I don't belong there, like my existence offends her sensibilities or something.

From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez

Now, that joke did actually offend plenty of people, while Obama’s joke offended zero people.

From Slate ● Oct. 31, 2026

Carrara said he was offended and ignored the critique.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2026

Stewart later said he was offended by suggestions he was "slumming it" by moving into US television.

From Barron's ● Oct. 29, 2026

You do whatever you want; I’m not offended by any of it.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

Mrs. Brenner wrinkled her nose, probably offended by the scent of coal smoke Yakov had carried with him from the trainyard.

From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros

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

To avoid offending her, he went to a lecture by Oswald Spengler, the author of “The Decline of the West,” published in two volumes in 1918 and 1922.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2026

He added: "However, the seriousness of your offending, requires you to be punished and others who might find themselves in a similar situation to be deterred from doing as you did."

From BBC ● Oct. 15, 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

I pulled the offending weed, then brushed my hands off.

From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023