offended
Americanadjective
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feeling or expressing hurt, indignation, or irritation because of a perceived wrong or insult.
The man replied in an offended voice, "My niece would never do anything like that!"
-
being the recipient or victim of criminal or morally repugnant behavior.
After the referral agent and the offender speak, the offended individual is invited to speak about how the assault affected them.
-
(of a sense, taste, etc.) affected disagreeably.
With the bright neon blue and red, the dress looked like clown garb, so my offended aesthetic sense told me to take it off.
verb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of offended
Explanation
Someone who's offended is annoyed, hurt, or disgusted. If one presidential candidate comments snidely on the hairstyle of another, the offended candidate may retaliate. If your feelings are hurt by your brother's comment that he "could take or leave" the chocolate chip cookies you baked for him, you're offended. And your grandmother's offended expression may be the result of the dreadful movie you're watching. Offended comes from the verb offend, specifically its secondary meaning "to wound the feelings." The Latin root is offendere, "to hit, stumble, provoke, or displease."
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.
Offended by the proposal, one Black paper dismissed Longstreet as a “whitewashed relic of the confederacy.”
From Slate • Nov. 20, 2023
Offended specialises in guerrilla marketing, turning the world of corporate messaging and polished branding upside down.
From BBC • Apr. 17, 2023
Offended parties described the odor as “pretty strong” and likened the scent to a blast of “pepper spray.”
From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 22, 2021
Offended: My overall point was that even scumbags have innocent mothers and other family members who deserve comfort and showing compassion toward him would comfort them.
From Washington Post • Aug. 10, 2021
Offended, Goldman filed a grievance against the sergeant.
From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
