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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun offense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of offense are crime, scandal, sin, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

In what contexts can crime take the place of offense?

In some situations, the words crime and offense are roughly equivalent. However, crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When can scandal be used instead of offense?

The words scandal and offense can be used in similar contexts, but scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is it sensible to use sin instead of offense?

The synonyms sin and offense are sometimes interchangeable, but sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

Where would vice be a reasonable alternative to offense?

The meanings of vice and offense largely overlap; however, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offense If Payton doesn’t start shoving this offense through it, the joker’s on Broncos Country. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025 The 22-year-old is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and the commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025 Mayfield moved the offense down the field and Richaad White punched the ball into the end zone for the 2-yard score. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 16 Sep. 2025 Kevin O’Connell is an offense coach and a guru on that end of the field. Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 15 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • Federal prosecutors charged a UK teenager with conspiracy to commit computer fraud and other crimes in connection with the network intrusions of 47 US companies that generated more than $115 million in ransomware payments over a three-year span.
    Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 19 Sep. 2025
  • In December 2024, Syed’s legal team filed a motion to reduce his life sentence under Maryland's Juvenile Restoration Act, as Syed was not yet 18 at the time of the crime.
    Erin Jensen, USA Today, 19 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Russia's offensive this summer had advanced at one of the fastest rates since late 2024 but, overall since November 2022, Moscow has gained less than 1 percent of additional Ukrainian territory.
    Brendan Cole John Feng, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
  • The Israeli military began a ground offensive in Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces said on Tuesday.
    ABC News, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The racially motivated attack, carried out by members of the Ku Klux Klan, intensified national outrage and was a catalyst for major civil rights advancements.
    Arizona Republic, AZCentral.com, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The company also cut coverage in many vulnerable parts of the state, sparking outrage when homeowners who had just faced a nonrenewal were then hit by the January wildfires around Los Angeles County.
    Giulia Carbonaro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • So, for example, the Republicans who have the highest racial resentment against Black Americans are the most likely to be morally disengaged from Democrats.
    Isaac Chotiner, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
  • Try to temper your resentment by remembering that the lingering presence of the sandbox is not about you.
    R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Walz and Democratic-Farmer-Labor legislators are calling for new policies including a state ban on semiautomatic assault-style weapons like the AR-15, which was used in the Annunciation shooting.
    Alex Derosier, Twin Cities, 20 Sep. 2025
  • At its core is a Marine Air-Ground Task Force centered around the amphibious assault vessel USS Iwo Jima and two San Antonio-class transport ships.
    Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 20 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Jokes can offend, annoy, insult or fall flat.
    Diane Brady, Fortune, 19 Sep. 2025
  • The New York Times reported this phrase is a common insult across the internet.
    Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • During the 2008 financial crisis, Biglari seized on shareholder anger and economic uncertainty.
    Lily Mae Lazarus, Fortune, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Taking on Kimmel On Wednesday afternoon, Carr tapped into preexisting MAGA media anger about a Monday night Kimmel monologue and used a right-wing podcaster’s platform to blast Kimmel and pressure ABC’s parent company Disney.
    Brian Stelter, CNN Money, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • And now Google warns that Chrome is under attack, issuing an emergency update and a recommendation to upgrade all desktop browsers immediately.
    Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
  • Ukrainian defense forces took down the 230-foot (70 meters) antenna dish to prevent Russian forces from using it to guide attacks on its territory.
    Tereza Pultarova, Space.com, 18 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on offense

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