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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun offense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of offense are crime, scandal, sin, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

In what contexts can crime take the place of offense?

In some situations, the words crime and offense are roughly equivalent. However, crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When can scandal be used instead of offense?

The words scandal and offense can be used in similar contexts, but scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is it sensible to use sin instead of offense?

The synonyms sin and offense are sometimes interchangeable, but sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

Where would vice be a reasonable alternative to offense?

The meanings of vice and offense largely overlap; however, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offense Dak Prescott and the Cowboys offense have been excellent this season and should only get better with CeeDee Lamb set to return from an ankle sprain in Week 7. Jacob Camenker, USA Today, 19 Oct. 2025 McVay has established himself as a savant in zone blocking and motion offense, but this year’s defense is unequivocally leading the Rams so far. Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025 Sloppy passes, stagnant offense, blown defensive assignments, poor decisions. Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025 Speaking of the Auburn offense, the Tigers' pass game has looked sufficient – and at times efficient – at Jordan-Hare Stadium. Matt Hayes, USA TODAY, 10 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • His wife, Rebecca Haro, was charged with two crimes — murder and filing a false report — and is scheduled for a preliminary hearing the day Jake Haro will be sentenced.
    Madeline Morrison, NBC news, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Rafael is a crime and breaking news reporter at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Financiers organized press offensives and enlisted top reporters as allies, offering lucrative jobs or outright bribes.
    Evan Hughes, The Atlantic, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Despite a peacekeeping force, Azerbaijan launched a large-scale military offensive on the sovereign territory in September 2023, which led to the displacement of nearly the entire Artsakh population, some 120,000, to Armenia.
    Natalie Oganesyan, Deadline, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The situation sparked outrage in Miami and nationwide, citing it as an example of a violation of freedom of speech.
    Edda Leon, Miami Herald, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Photos of the gaggle of fans were shared on social media, and Swift’s fans expressed their outrage at the scene.
    Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 20 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The universal hatred comes from the child star’s coevals, whose curiosity about the occupation is mingled with resentment.
    Adam Gopnik, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
  • Left in its wake are rising societal resentments and an ever-increasing wealth gap.
    Leila Gharagozlou, CNN Money, 19 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But when Gwen falls into a dream state, the Grabber's assault on the group threatens to derail their plan entirely.
    Megan McCluskey, Time, 18 Oct. 2025
  • Of those six assault cases, Berchtold was only found guilty of rape of a child once and spent one year in jail, Jan told Vulture.
    Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 18 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Carter was sitting in her chair, listening to a lesson, when Octavius Johnson, a classmate who had a crush on her, started to fire off insults.
    Jeff Pearlman, Rolling Stone, 17 Oct. 2025
  • Politico counted 251 instances of derogatory insults in the group chat, interspersed with logistical conversations about social media strategies and collecting votes.
    Matthew Kelly, Kansas City Star, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • But in Israel, some of the relief felt in the wake of the agreement has been eclipsed by anger that Hamas so far has released only the remains of nine of the 28 deceased hostages held in Gaza.
    Lauren Kent, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2025
  • The Owensboro news media and some white onlookers insist that when the lady sheriff didn’t show up to act as executioner, there was anger in the press’s unmet expectations, which then was taken out on the crowd, with the reporters lying about the audience’s unruly behavior.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The Islamists were seen as complicit in India’s worst plane hijack in 1999 and the 2008 attack on the Indian embassy in Kabul, which killed several Indian citizens, including two senior diplomats.
    Happymon Jacob, Time, 16 Oct. 2025
  • Shannon will man larger perimeter players, but not necessarily the point of attack as often.
    Fred Katz, New York Times, 16 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.

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