Main Entry:

of·fend

Pronunciation:

\ə-ˈfend\

Function:

verb

Etymology:

Middle English, from Anglo-French offendre, from Latin offendere to strike against, offend, from ob- against + -fendere to strike — more at ob-, defend

Date:

14th century

intransitive verb1 a: to transgress the moral or divine law : sin <if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive — Shakespeare> b: to violate a law or rule : do wrong <offend against the law>2 a: to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury <took off his shoe and removed the offending pebble> b: to cause dislike, anger, or vexation <thoughtless words that offend needlessly>transitive verb1 a: violate, transgress b: to cause pain to : hurt2obsolete : to cause to sin or fall3: to cause to feel vexation or resentment usually by violation of what is proper or fitting <was offended by their language>

— of·fend·er noun

synonyms offend, outrage, affront, insult 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>. outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings <outraged by their accusations>. affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy <deeply affronted by his callousness>. insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame <insulted every guest at the party>.