offend
- 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.
- 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.
Origin of offend
Synonyms
See more synonyms for on Thesaurus.comAntonyms
Related Words
delinquentculpritsuspectfelonconvictcriminallawbreakermalefactorcrookwrongdoerconjailbirdtransgressorsinnerExamples from the Web for offender
Contemporary Examples
That needs to be the rule, the universal standard, regardless of whether the offender is a Republican or a Democrat.
Edwards would be a first offender who, yes, abused his power, but also led a life of public service.
Serious problems with laws, policies, and practices persist and can compromise victim safety and offender accountability.
Less than a week later, the offender was sent to Camp Lejune and subsequently deployed for Iraq.
When the public sympathizes with an offender, there's less political will to file charges.
Historical Examples
And yet, if the law is strictly interpreted, the offender is liable.
Flying MachinesW.J. Jackman and Thos. H. Russell
Eve knew that the offender had been there too, but she had too much prudence to betray him.
Homeward BoundJames Fenimore Cooper
"Command the offender to quit your ship instantly," said John Effingham firmly.
Homeward BoundJames Fenimore Cooper
In this case their duty was to turn the offender out at the door.
The babies looked upon the back of the offender as shown in the picture.
Lotus BudsAmy Carmichael
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)
Word Origin
Word Origin and History for offender
n.
mid-15c., agent noun from offend (v.). Earlier was offendour (early 15c.), from Anglo-French.
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.