1
as in to trespass
to commit an offense
since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to insult
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
the visitor unintentionally offended his hosts terribly by failing to compliment them on the elaborately prepared meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to violate
to fail to keep
offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offend
If Becket’s rule were implemented, in other words, every public school would have to provide advance notice to any parent about any lesson that might offend that parent’s religious views.
—
Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
That brand of authenticity—the idea of his work as singular art objects—offends him.
—Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
A lot of the time, the people on the stage or on the show, they’re not even offended.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
That clip became so prominent in part because, the same week, Barrett offended the Trump base.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offend
Ian Millhiser, Vox, 15 Apr. 2025
That brand of authenticity—the idea of his work as singular art objects—offends him.
—Bruce Handy, New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2025
A lot of the time, the people on the stage or on the show, they’re not even offended.
—Ct Jones, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025
That clip became so prominent in part because, the same week, Barrett offended the Trump base.
—Niall Stanage, The Hill, 9 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offend
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offend
Verb
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The military is now authorized to search and temporarily detain individuals who trespass on the New Mexico National Defense Area, provide medical assistance and implement crowd control measures until law enforcement arrives to take them into custody.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
22 Apr. 2025
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Wheeler was previously convicted of trespassing charges from March 18, 2020 and Nov. 18, 2022.—
Robert A. Cronkleton,
Kansas City Star,
31 Mar. 2025
Verb
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As the report highlighted, culture wars are about both sides attempting to impose their will by personally insulting others who hold opposing viewpoints, seeking ways to cancel the social and professional lifestyles of others, and preventing others from participating in public debates.—
Eric Wood,
Forbes.com,
14 Apr. 2025
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The idea of an entertainer with no political experience who could win people over by insulting opponents and misbehaving hit just too close to home.—
Steve Greene,
IndieWire,
12 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The sheriff’s office said it’s launched an internal investigation, but so far has not found any signs that the veteran deputy violated any policies.—
Emily Shapiro,
ABC News,
18 Apr. 2025
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In legal terms, the lawsuits are saying oil and gas companies violated consumer-protection laws and committed common-law civil violations such as negligence.—
Hannah Wiseman,
The Conversation,
18 Apr. 2025
Verb
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And bond market yields fall by about 150 basis points (1.5 percentage points).11 The Fed Fed Chair Powell says the Fed is waiting for the softening survey data to translate into hard data before moving toward lower interest rates.—
Robert Barone,
Forbes.com,
15 Apr. 2025
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Detectives kept it to themselves, instead the LAPD let the suspects think that investigators had fallen for what police perceived to be a trick.—
Greg Fisher,
CBS News,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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In addition to the changes around LGBTQ+ inclusion, 2021 restrictions on a certain traditionalist liturgy outraged a contingent of Catholics who developed a cynicism about Francis’ reforms mirroring that of the Second Vatican Council.—
Liam Adams,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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The shootings outraged many in the international community, with some calling the killings a war crime.—
Melanie Lidman,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After a 3-month long girls trip along Florida’s Gulf Coast, a wayward pair of endangered North Atlantic right whales known as Curlew and Koala have finally wandered back to the Atlantic Ocean.—
Dinah Voyles Pulver,
USA Today,
26 Apr. 2025
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Alberta is skeptical… until Hetty points out how Pete has been wandering and dating up a storm, was secretly in the mafia and punched Thor in the face after the Viking slept with Carol.—
Vlada Gelman,
TVLine,
24 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offend.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offend. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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