OFFEND Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'offend' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of offend are affront , insult , and outrage . While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting. // hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Q: Where would 'affront' be a reasonable alternative to 'offend'?

The synonyms affront and offend are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy. // deeply affronted by his callousness

Q: When would 'insult' be a good substitute for 'offend'?

In some situations, the words insult and offend are roughly equivalent. However, insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame. // insulted every guest at the party

Q: When might 'outrage' be a better fit than 'offend'?

The words outrage and offend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings. // outraged by their accusations

offend

verb

ə-ˈfend

Definition of offend next

as in to trespass

to commit an offense since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to insult

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to violate

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word offend distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of offend are affront, insult, and outrage. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Where would affront be a reasonable alternative to offend?

The synonyms affront and offend are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

When would insult be a good substitute for offend?

In some situations, the words insult and offend are roughly equivalent. However, insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When might outrage be a better fit than offend?

The words outrage and offend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

Examples of offend in a Sentence

These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Recent Examples on the Web Most concluded that what had happened was that the paper’s owner, Jeff Bezos, who has plenty of business with the federal government, and with the election approaching, dared not offend Donald Trump. —

David Remnick, The New Yorker, 30 Oct. 2024 In an interview with PEOPLE, Adler shared her reaction to the skit, saying she wasn't offended, but had one critique. —

Athena Sobhan, People.com, 24 Oct. 2024 To him, Roth appeared to be offended by such a suggestion, and Van Halen wasn't having it. —

Raechal Shewfelt, EW.com, 21 Oct. 2024 There is fun to be had, though, when that firmness is brought to bear on things that offend her sense of island etiquette. —

Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for offend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offend

Verb

On their way to check out their family property, a group of teenagers trespassed on the land of a nearby house, home of the monstrous, chainsaw-wielding Leatherface.

Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 23 Oct. 2024
People threw at least three green flares onto the field, stopping play, and a pair of fans trespassed the diamond in the ninth inning before security guards tackled them.

Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 26 Sep. 2024