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)

Derived Forms

• ofˈfending, adjective
• ofˈfender, noun

Other Words From

• of·fend·a·ble adjective
• of·fend·er noun
• o·ver·of·fend verb (used with object)
• pre·of·fend verb (used with object)
• re·of·fend verb
• un·of·fend·a·ble adjective
• un·of·fend·ing 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

“Democrats spend way too much time trying not to offend anyone rather than being brutally honest about the challenges many Americans face,” Moulton told the New York Times.

From BBC

And then finally Trump himself seemed to go out of his way to offend people at every opportunity, including when he said that he would protect women “whether the women like it or not.”

From Slate

"I don't want to offend anyone with the shape, but it was just to get their attention," he said.

From BBC

“How do I offend anybody in there?”

From Slate

They embraced risk and played to win big rather than striving not to offend and hoping to squeak by.

From Salon

Related Words

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