Offended — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

verb /ə-ˈfend/ of·fend

Meaning & Definition of Offended

Offended (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

Offended (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: erred, fell, sinned, strayed, transgressed, trespassed, wandered, broke the law, fell from grace
    related: breached, broke, infringed, violated, backslid, lapsed, messed up
    near: forgave, justified, pardoned, regretted, repented, rued

  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: affronted, disrespected, dissed (slang), insulted, outraged, slapped, slighted, wounded
    related: cut, snubbed, displeased, distressed, disturbed, hurt, miffed, pained, troubled, upset, jeered, mocked, ridiculed, sneered (at), taunted, defamed, disparaged, libeled, maligned, reviled, slandered, slurred, smeared, oppressed, persecuted, tormented, tortured
    near: acclaimed, applauded, approved, hailed, commended, complimented, eulogized, praised, adulated, flattered, sweet-talked, exalted, glorified, honored, delighted, gratified, pleased, satisfied

  3. to fail to keep

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

    similar: breached, broke, contravened, fractured, infringed (on or upon), traduced, transgressed, violated
    related: disobeyed, rebelled, blew off, brushed (off), disregarded, flouted, ignored, neglected, overlooked, overpassed, passed over, slighted, tuned out, winked (at), dismissed, pooh-poohed, scorned, shrugged off, defied, resisted, withstood
    opposite: complied (with), conformed (to), followed, minded, obeyed, observed
    near: deferred (to), served, submitted (to), surrendered (to), yielded (to), attended, heard, heeded, listened (to), marked, noted, noticed, regarded, watched

Related Entry: Offend (verb)

Offend is a different word from Offended. The synonyms below are for offend, not for offended.

  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 Offended

The most common words with a similar meaning to Offended:

Slang: dissed
erred, fell, sinned, strayed, transgressed, trespassed, wandered, affronted, disrespected, insulted, outraged, slapped, slighted, wounded, breached, broke, contravened, fractured, infringed (on or upon), traduced, violated, broke the law, fell from grace

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Offended

Words with the opposite meaning of Offended:

complied (with), conformed (to), followed, minded, obeyed, observed

Related Words for Offended

infringed, backslid, lapsed, messed up, cut, snubbed, displeased, distressed, disturbed, hurt, miffed, pained, troubled, upset, jeered, mocked, ridiculed, sneered (at), taunted, defamed, disparaged, libeled, maligned, reviled, slandered, slurred, smeared, oppressed, persecuted, tormented

Near Antonyms of Offended

forgave, justified, pardoned, regretted, repented, rued, acclaimed, applauded, approved, hailed, commended, complimented, eulogized, praised, adulated, flattered, sweet-talked, exalted, glorified, honored, delighted, gratified, pleased, satisfied, deferred (to), served, submitted (to), surrendered (to), yielded (to), attended

Word Forms of Offended

Inflections: offending, offends

Derived words: offender (noun)

Origin & Etymology of Offended

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

Frequently Asked Questions about Offended

What does "Offended" mean?

"Offended" 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 "Offended"?

Other words for "Offended" include erred, fell, sinned, strayed, transgressed, trespassed, wandered and affronted. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Offended" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Offended"?

There are 75 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Offended". Common alternatives include erred, fell, sinned, strayed, transgressed, trespassed, wandered, affronted, disrespected and dissed.

What is the opposite of "Offended"?

Antonyms of "Offended" include complied (with), conformed (to), followed, minded, obeyed and observed. Near antonyms include forgave, justified, pardoned and regretted.

How do you use "Offended" in a sentence?

Examples of "Offended" 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 "Offended" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Offended" is a verb.

How do you pronounce "Offended"?

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

What is the origin of the word "Offended"?

"Offended" comes from 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.