offended

American  

[uh-fen-did] / əˈfɛn dɪd /

adjective

1. 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!"

2. 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.

3. (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.

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verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of offend.

Other Word Forms

• half-offended adjective
• offendedly adverb
• offendedness noun
• unoffended adjective

Etymology

Origin of offended

offend ( def. ) + -ed ²

Example Sentences

The cub shook itself and retired with an offended air.

From Literature

She was clearly offended that I dared speak up.

From Literature

Miss Genovese’s smile doesn’t reach her eyes; she seems offended by the notion that her own dress code could be improved upon, or that her operators would be less accomplished than the Hello Girls overseas.

From Literature

In those days, when weak countries defaulted on their debts or otherwise offended great powers, marines on gunboats seized the customs offices in the ports of entry.

From The Wall Street Journal

"You have a right to be offended but also there needs to be a level of understanding deeper than the surface level of Tourette's as an involuntary disability."

From BBC

Related Words

• angry
• annoyed
• exasperated
• insulted
• outraged