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offend definition

of·fend (ə fend′)

intransitive verb

  1. to break a law, religious commandment, etc.; commit a sin or crime
  2. 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

  1. to hurt the feelings of; cause to feel resentful, angry, or displeased; insult
  2. to be displeasing to (the taste, sense, etc.)
  3. Obsolete
    1. to transgress; violate
    2. to cause to sin

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2005 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

offend Synonyms

offend

v.

affront, insult, outrage, annoy, hurt, hurt one's feelings, wound, cut, nettle, pique, anger, irritate, provoke, displease, aggrieve, chagrin, give offense, repel, disgust, sicken, revolt, shock, transgress, trespass, step on one's toes, tread on one's toes*; see also anger 1, disgust.

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


Webster's New World Roget's A-Z Thesaurus Copyright © 1999 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

offend Usage Examples

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.

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.

Preposition: against

  • taste: Notify the Secretary of state if any foreign services offend against taste and decency.

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

  • anything: To be taken as seriously as you want to to be taken, but please donât be offended by anything.
offend usage examples (more)

The word usage examples above have been gathered from various sources to reflect current and historical usage. They do not represent the opinions of YourDictionary.com.

offend quotes

Great peace have they which love thy law: and nothing shall offend them.

-Bible (Old Testament)

Love is the fart Of every heart: It pains a man when 'tis kept close, And others doth offend, when 'tis let loose.

-Suckling, SirJohn

offend quotes (more)

Webster's New World Dictionary of Quotations Copyright © 2005 by Chambers Harrap Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved. Published by Wiley, Hoboken, NJ. Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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MLA Style

"offend." Webster's New World College Dictionary. 2009

  • Your Dictionary. 5 July 2009
  • <www.yourdictionary.com/offend>

APA Style

offend. (2009). In Webster's New World College Dictionary

  • Retrieved July 5th, 2009, from www.yourdictionary.com/offend

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