offend 
of·fend (ə fend′)
intransitive verb
- to break a law, religious commandment, etc.; commit a sin or crime
- to create resentment, anger, or displeasure; give offense
Etymology: ME offenden < OFr offendre < L offendere, to strike against < ob- (see ob-) + fendere, to hit, strike: see defend
transitive verb
- to hurt the feelings of; cause to feel resentful, angry, or displeased; insult
- to be displeasing to (the taste, sense, etc.)
- Obsolete
- to transgress; violate
- to cause to sin
offend
v.
offend implies the causing of displeasure or resentment in another, intentionally or unintentionally, by wounding the person's feelings or by a breach of the person's sense of propriety she will be offended if she is not invited; affront implies open and deliberate disrespect or offense to affront someone's pride; insult implies an affront so insolent or contemptuously rude as to cause humiliation and resentment a book that insults the reader's intelligence; outrage implies an extreme offense against someone's sense of right, justice, propriety, etc. he was outraged by the offer of a bribe
Used with why or when
- when: And I was bitterly offended when I discovered that I had been placed instead, in the Treble Block.
Object
- sensibility: He also said that the Jesus cartoons were not printed because they would have offended the sensibilities of most of the newspaper's readers.
- behavior: Prisoners held in police cells receive no help to tackle their offending behavior or to address their drug, alcohol or mental health problems.
- anyone: I do not wish to offend anyone or am I " having a go " at anyone.
- anybody: All they have to do is manage for a day or so among the strange customs without offending anybody.
- advertisement: The offending advertisements were still appearing and it seemed they did not even comply with the industry's Code.
Subject
- anything: To be taken as seriously as you want to to be taken, but please donât be offended by anything.
Modifying Another Word
- mortally: In this respect, he would be mortally offended to be made St. Internet.
- persistently: Tackling crime Getting involved in crime or persistently offending is too easy for some young people who do not have the right support.
- deeply: I've only been here a day and he's already deeply offended me.
- easily: WARNING: Not suitable for anyone easily offended by vulgar songs with rude words!
- repeatedly: Notices are intended for low level, usually first time offending and will not be appropriate for those who repeatedly offend.
- again: Our main concern is to assist you not to offend again.
Preposition: against
- taste: Notify the Secretary of state if any foreign services offend against taste and decency.
- principle: The length of the copied section is not relevant, since any act of plagiarism offends against the general principle set out above.
- rule: We do not consider that there is anything in FRS 10 which offends against a rule of tax law.
Preposition: in
- future: This project is designed to make them think about their actions and hopefully deter them from offending in the future " .
Preposition: by
Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.
Love is the fart Of every heart: It pains a man when 'tis kept close, And others doth offend, when 'tis let loose.
Browse dictionary entries near offend
- ‹ offence
- ‹ Offenbach
- ‹ offbeat
- ‹ Offaly
- ‹ offal
- ‹ off year
- ‹ off-white
- ‹ off-track
- ‹ off to
- ‹ off-the-wall
- offended ›
- offense ›
- offenseless ›
- offensive ›
- offer ›
- offer of proof ›
- offer up ›
- offered load ›
- offering ›
- offering circular ›
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