Offend — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈfend/ of·fend

Meaning & Definition of Offend

Offend (verb)

  1. to transgress the moral or divine law, sin
  2. to violate a law or rule, do wrong
  3. to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury

Offend (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to commit an offense

    "since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly"

    similar: err, fall, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander, break the law, fall from grace
    related: breach, break, infringe, violate, backslide, lapse, mess up
    near: forgive, justify, pardon, regret, repent, rue

  2. 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"

    similar: affront, dis (slang), disrespect, insult, outrage, slap, slight, wound
    related: cut, snub, displease, distress, disturb, hurt, miff, pain, trouble, upset, jeer, mock, ridicule, sneer (at), taunt, defame, disparage, libel, malign, revile, slander, slur, smear, oppress, persecute, torment, torture
    near: acclaim, applaud, approve, hail, commend, compliment, eulogize, praise, adulate, flatter, sweet-talk, exalt, glorify, honor, delight, gratify, please, satisfy

  3. to fail to keep

    "offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code"

    similar: breach, break, contravene, fracture, infringe (on or upon), traduce, transgress, violate
    related: disobey, rebel, blow off, brush (off), disregard, flout, ignore, neglect, overlook, overpass, pass over, slight, tune out, wink (at), dismiss, pooh-pooh, scorn, shrug off, defy, resist, withstand
    opposite: comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe
    near: defer (to), serve, submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), attend, hear, heed, listen (to), mark, note, notice, regard, watch

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Offend

The most common words with a similar meaning to Offend:

Slang: dis
err, fall, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander, affront, disrespect, insult, outrage, slap, slight, wound, breach, break, contravene, fracture, infringe (on or upon), traduce, violate, break the law, fall from grace

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Offend

Words with the opposite meaning of Offend:

comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe

Related Words for Offend

infringe, backslide, lapse, mess up, cut, snub, displease, distress, disturb, hurt, miff, pain, trouble, upset, jeer, mock, ridicule, sneer (at), taunt, defame, disparage, libel, malign, revile, slander, slur, smear, oppress, persecute, torment

Near Antonyms of Offend

forgive, justify, pardon, regret, repent, rue, acclaim, applaud, approve, hail, commend, compliment, eulogize, praise, adulate, flatter, sweet-talk, exalt, glorify, honor, delight, gratify, please, satisfy, defer (to), serve, submit (to), surrender (to), yield (to), attend

Word Forms of Offend

Inflections: offended, offending, offends

Derived words: offender (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Offend

Middle English offenden "to assail, violate, displease, hurt the feelings of," borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French offendre, borrowed from Latin offendere "to strike against, stumble (upon), trouble, break a rule, displease, annoy," from of-, assimilated variant of ob- ob- + -fendere presumably, "to strike, hit" (unattested without prefixes) defend

First known use: 14th centuryi

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Offend

Words & Phrases Containing Offend

offend the eye

Frequently Asked Questions about Offend

What does "Offend" mean?

"Offend" means to transgress the moral or divine law, sin. As a verb, it is defined as: to transgress the moral or divine law, sin. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Offend"?

Other words for "Offend" include err, fall, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander and affront. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Offend" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Offend"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Offend". Common alternatives include err, fall, sin, stray, transgress, trespass, wander, affront, dis and disrespect.

What is the opposite of "Offend"?

Antonyms of "Offend" include comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey and observe. Near antonyms include forgive, justify, pardon and regret.

How do you use "Offend" in a sentence?

Examples of "Offend" in a sentence: "since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly"; "the visitor unintentionally offended his hosts terribly by failing to compliment them on the elaborately prepared meal"; "offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code".

Is "Offend" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Offend" is a verb.

Is "Offend" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Offend" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Offend"?

"Offend" is pronounced /ə-ˈfend/ and divided into syllables as of·fend.