offend
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to irritate, annoy, or anger; cause resentful displeasure in.
Even the hint of prejudice offends me.
- 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
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)
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
-
offendernoun
-
reoffendverb
-
overoffendverb (used with object)
-
preoffendverb (used with object)
-
offendableadjective
-
offendingadjective
-
unoffendableadjective
-
unoffendingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
-
offendsimple
-
offendssimple
-
have offendedperfect
-
has offendedperfect
-
am offendingprogressive
-
are offendingprogressive
-
is offendingprogressive
-
have been offendingperfect progressive
-
has been offendingperfect progressive
Past
-
offendedsimple
-
had offendedperfect
-
was offendingprogressive
-
were offendingprogressive
-
had been offendingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Vocabulary lists containing offend
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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"Still I Rise" by Maya Angelou
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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:
Some gyms and saunas still maintain "no tattoo zones" on the grounds that certain tattoos "are too intimidating and may offend other guests".
From BBC ● May 29, 2026
It’s usually a warning sign when a religious declaration fails to offend elite opinion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
Yet the majority treats Louisiana’s mapmaking choices that offend Section 2 as if they arrived unmarked by history.
From Slate ● May 8, 2026
McVay took pains to remind that the Rams are Stafford’s team, seemingly to not offend the Rams’ most important player.
From Los Angeles Times ● Apr. 24, 2026
“I did not mean to offend you, Ophelia,” he said, taking my hand instead.
From "Ophelia" by Lisa Klein
That’s “diworsification”—ideas watered down to the lowest common denominator, the least innovative option that offends no one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 26, 2025
"It was the wrong thing to do. It offends against their own customers' sense of fair play," he added.
From BBC ● May 20, 2025
At the very least, that's not something that offends people.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2024
‘May December’ offends Vili Fualaau, Mary Kay Letourneau’s former student and estranged husband, who felt disrespected when he wasn’t included in telling his story.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 5, 2024
“Whether it offends people or not, hard decisions have to be made.”
From "Here to Stay" by Sara Farizan
It offended German sensibilities to have an Italian suitor for a blue-chip, analysts said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 8, 2026
England's decision to ship their own food to Mexico, some of which was impounded - although the fish fingers made it through - offended the locals, who pride themselves on their hospitality.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
If she has offended you before, then we can assume this is part of a pattern of behavior.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 1, 2026
Anna keeps prefacing her remarks with the words “no offense,” but Pete can’t help being offended by her pointed disdain.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026
I was puzzled and a bit offended by this last.
From "The Secret History" by Donna Tartt
This was the point at which his legal team would present mitigation and explain the circumstances behind his offending.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Tams said the CPS's priority throughout had been to ensure it built a "robust" case that showed the full extent of Bush's offending "so that the families could get justice".
From BBC ● Aug. 1, 2026
The letters urged both companies to take action against any offending sellers but didn’t address whether the platforms themselves had violated relevant laws.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
An officer reviews the footage before issuing a flat-rated $93 citation, which is sent to the registered owner of the offending vehicle.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026
Baby would wail, raising the offending arm or leg, and Olanna would stick a finger in her mouth and run it over Baby’s injury.
From "Half of a Yellow Sun" by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
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.
