as in insulting
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in trespassing
to commit an offense
since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outraging
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 violating
to fail to keep
offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of offending
David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Many of the offending cooks got their paperwork in order and fixed their problems after some time.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
According to a separate memo sent to department employees, the return to Times New Roman takes effect Wednesday and all templates for official documents are to be updated to remove the offending Calibri font.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
Named after the former Boulder County Sheriff, the Joe Pelle Center is an alternative sentencing facility that will replace private halfway houses in the county and hopes to lower the chances of criminals re-offending.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Simons was the offending party on Bane’s swipe, and he was beaten for an and-one dunk in transition shortly thereafter.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Every year, crews treat about a quarter of the offending streams.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
By Wednesday afternoon, DHS appears to have taken down the Von-offending video.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
On hotter, stormier worlds, these reactions speed up, drawing more of the offending carbon dioxide into rock.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Police said that through witness statements and security footage from the area, officers were able to identify the offending vehicle and searched the area.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Who is this dude, and is Sanders worried about offending him?
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Travelers often worry about coming off as rude or offending someone, but your personal safety is foremost, so trust your gut.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
Its safety initiatives, which about 15% of its staff work on, include using machine learning to identify and remove offending content and equipping community moderators to uphold its policies, its website shows.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
The offending artwork was taken down on Monday, the same day WaPo notified the agency.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
Musk said at that time that X decided to delete Lucre’s offending posts but to reinstate the right-wing influencer to the platform.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
Unnamed juveniles have also been listed as co-conspirators, and the ages that some are alleged to have begun offending are as young as 13 or 14, according to law enforcement.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Adjective
Washington qualifies for an additional life sentence for re-offending after being released from prison, prosecutors said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
Many of the offending cooks got their paperwork in order and fixed their problems after some time.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
According to a separate memo sent to department employees, the return to Times New Roman takes effect Wednesday and all templates for official documents are to be updated to remove the offending Calibri font.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
Named after the former Boulder County Sheriff, the Joe Pelle Center is an alternative sentencing facility that will replace private halfway houses in the county and hopes to lower the chances of criminals re-offending.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Simons was the offending party on Bane’s swipe, and he was beaten for an and-one dunk in transition shortly thereafter.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Every year, crews treat about a quarter of the offending streams.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
By Wednesday afternoon, DHS appears to have taken down the Von-offending video.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
On hotter, stormier worlds, these reactions speed up, drawing more of the offending carbon dioxide into rock.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Please tell me what to do or say that will get the job done without unnecessarily embarrassing or offending this person.
—Judith Martin, Dallas Morning News, 4 Feb. 2026
Police said that through witness statements and security footage from the area, officers were able to identify the offending vehicle and searched the area.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Who is this dude, and is Sanders worried about offending him?
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
Travelers often worry about coming off as rude or offending someone, but your personal safety is foremost, so trust your gut.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
Its safety initiatives, which about 15% of its staff work on, include using machine learning to identify and remove offending content and equipping community moderators to uphold its policies, its website shows.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
The offending artwork was taken down on Monday, the same day WaPo notified the agency.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
Musk said at that time that X decided to delete Lucre’s offending posts but to reinstate the right-wing influencer to the platform.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
Unnamed juveniles have also been listed as co-conspirators, and the ages that some are alleged to have begun offending are as young as 13 or 14, according to law enforcement.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Adjective
-
The discontent was more widespread, more vociferous and more insulting this time.—
Andy Naylor,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Trump recently published an insulting social media post about Massie's wife, Carolyn Grace Moffa, that was reposted on X by Gallrein.—
Lucas Aulbach,
Louisville Courier Journal,
7 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Elizabeth and her family are attending as guests and Michael is caught trespassing.—
Rebecca Angel Baer,
Southern Living,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Municipal Judge Margo Kirchner has ruled that Paul Florsheim, a Shorewood resident and professor at the University of Wisconsin − Milwaukee, was trespassing on private property while walking along Lake Michigan last summer.—
Caitlin Looby,
jsonline.com,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
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After Conley admitted to violating parole in federal court on Monday, Hall revoked his supervised release and sentenced him to 21 months in or with no supervised release to follow.—
Staff Report,
Hartford Courant,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Wiener is also pushing new legislation — called the No Kings Act — that would allow people in California to sue federal agents for violating their rights.—
Kevin Rector,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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In 2021, the now 38-year-old became the Minnesota Vikings’ offensive coordinator for Mike Zimmer’s final year as head coach.—
Matt Moret,
New York Times,
9 Feb. 2026
-
Michigan had 17 offensive boards and outrebounded Ohio State 44-31.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Two months later, the appointment of another nominee, Keith Fountain, failed in a 5-4 decision of the Board of Directors, falling one short of the six votes necessary to confirm him.—
Joseph Flaherty,
Arkansas Online,
11 Feb. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
10 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The Games also keep broadening their reach to new or revisited sports – breaking (breakdancing) in Paris; ski mountaineering in Milan; squash, lacrosse, cricket and flag football in Los Angeles.—
Dana ONeil,
CNN Money,
10 Feb. 2026
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Bjoergen captures her 11th career medal, breaking a three-way tie with Russian Raisa Smetanina and Italian Stefania Belmondo.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Her mother divorced her abusive father when Kaley was 3 years old and raised three children mainly as a single mom, Lanier said during jury selection.—
CNN.com Wire Service,
Mercury News,
11 Feb. 2026
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Her mother divorced her abusive father when Kaley was 3 years old and raised three children mainly as a single mom, Lanier said during jury selection.—
Clare Duffy,
CNN Money,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Nancy Guthrie had been missing less than three days when family members and reporters, and even an Amazon delivery worker, could be seen wandering onto her property, with drops of her blood still staining the front entryway.—
Hannah Fry,
Los Angeles Times,
14 Feb. 2026
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In the book, the trope is introduced when Lockwood sleeps in Catherine’s childhood bed and is visited by her girl-ghost wandering the moors, demanding to be let in.—
Natasha O'Neill,
Vanity Fair,
13 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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