offend

[uh-fend]

verb (used with object)

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

   Even the hint of prejudice offends me.

   Synonyms: insult, affront, nettle, chafe, provoke
   Antonyms: please

2. to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.

3. to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).

4. to hurt or cause pain to.

5. (in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.

verb (used without object)

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

   a remark so thoughtless it can only offend.

2. to err in conduct; commit a sin, crime, or fault.

   Synonyms: trespass, transgress

offend

/ əˈfɛnd /

verb

1. to hurt the feelings, sense of dignity, etc, of (a person)

2. (tr) to be disagreeable to; disgust

   the smell offended him

3. (intr except in archaic uses) to break (a law or laws in general)

Other Word Forms

• offending adjective
• offender noun
• offendable adjective
• overoffend verb (used with object)
• preoffend verb (used with object)
• reoffend verb
• unoffendable adjective
• unoffending adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of offend¹

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” ( bane ( def. ) )

Word History and Origins

Origin of offend¹

C14: via Old French offendre to strike against, from Latin offendere, from ob- against + fendere to strike

Example Sentences

Referees are told to wait until an offending player is back on their feet before they show a card.

Read more on BBC

Meanwhile the 20-minute red card is designed to make sure that the offending player is punished rather than the paying punter.

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It's clear the government needs to navigate these issues thoroughly to avoid the revolving door of offending, conviction and jail.

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Mayor of London Sadiq Khan said offending on the scale of Carrick's "must never happen again" after he was jailed for life with a minimum term of 32 years in 2023.

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Her one condition, delivered in the haughty tone of an offended aristocrat, was that they sign a note guaranteeing repayment for the damage.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• aggrieve 
• anger 
• annoy 
• antagonize 
• disgust 
• disturb 
• exasperate 
• gall 
• horrify 
• hurt 
• irritate 
• outrage 
• provoke 
• rile 
• shock 
• sicken 
• sting 
• upset