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
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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:
In its statement, Moygashel Bonfire Association said the display might "shock, offend or outrage", but said those involved in making it were exercising their right to freedom of expression.
From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026
It’s usually a warning sign when a religious declaration fails to offend elite opinion.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 27, 2026
“Least as in least likely to offend the president with the rerun of ‘Comics Unleashed’ from 2007 featuring Paula Poundstone and Andy Dick.”
From Los Angeles Times ● May 21, 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
It wouldn’t exactly help their mission to offend the other Messengers, but neither did he wish to be split up from Kate and Constance.
From "The Mysterious Benedict Society" by Trenton Lee Stewart
“And that offends people that aren’t from here.”
From Slate ● Nov. 18, 2025
For many people, a lawn with leaves unblown or unraked offends their sensibilities.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 16, 2025
"Crass content can be criticised if it offends you. However, you cannot have the state persecute and lock up people for offending your 'moral sentiments'," he wrote in a post on X.
From BBC ● Feb. 19, 2025
At the very least, that's not something that offends people.
From Salon ● Sep. 30, 2024
A middle-aged lady with a pointy nose and expensive trench coat scowls at me when I enter the lobby, like I don't belong there, like my existence offends her sensibilities or something.
From "I Am Not Your Perfect Mexican Daughter" by Erika L. Sánchez
"We recognise that it has offended many people, especially women. We take responsibility for any negligence in creating and reviewing the content of the advert," Dettol said in a statement on Monday.
From BBC ● Jun. 23, 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
Most people said they wouldn’t be offended, though some offered situations in which they would also feel confused.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 16, 2026
Turkey on Tuesday expressed alarm over a weekend gig by Kanye West in Istanbul attended by nearly 120,000 fans, saying it included elements that offended its spiritual sensitivities.
From Barron's ● Jun. 2, 2026
Any mention of her ‘works’ always had a bad effect upon Jo, who either grew rigid and looked offended, or changed the subject with a brusque remark, as now.
From "Little Women" by Louisa May Alcott
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
"There is a sense that the candidates are treading carefully to avoid offending the US and other veto powers."
From Barron's ● Jul. 23, 2026
The murder rate usually rises and falls alongside other crimes, so through the 2010s, with property crime and overall youth offending dropping, criminologists expected the murder trend to follow suit.
From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2026
Officials who spoke to the New York Times say a single supplier in Mexico originally grew the offending produce.
From Slate ● Jul. 17, 2026
Eisman had what amounted to a talent for offending people.
From "The Big Short" by Michael Lewis
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.