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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 The App State offense was kept to just 174 total yards, while Boise State racked up 473. Shaun Goodwin, Idaho Statesman, 28 Sep. 2025 There is a problem plaguing the Carolina Panthers’ passing offense: the strange disappearance of starting wide receiver Xavier Legette. Scott Fowler, Charlotte Observer, 16 Sep. 2025 If Payton doesn’t start shoving this offense through it, the joker’s on Broncos Country. Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 16 Sep. 2025 The 22-year-old is facing multiple charges, including aggravated murder, felony discharge of a firearm, obstruction of justice, witness tampering and the commission of a violent offense in the presence of a child. Amaris Encinas, USA Today, 16 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • Daniel was never charged with any crime regarding the allegations made by his former girlfriend.
    Doc Louallen, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2025
  • Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers executions for USA TODAY.
    Amanda Lee Myers, USA Today, 26 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • His administration has thrown its support behind Netanyahu, though, as Israel carries out its ground offensive in Gaza City.
    Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 23 Sep. 2025
  • Future offensives by Russia would then become strategically futile, and thus not worth attempting.
    ANDRIY ZAGORODNYUK, Foreign Affairs, 23 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Doing it all at once would trigger public outrage.
    Christopher Elliott, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The remark made waves on social media, sparking outrage and disappointment across the HBCU community.
    Amber Corrine, VIBE.com, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Unspoken resentment clouding a connection?
    USA TODAY, USA Today, 29 Sep. 2025
  • The news sparked an immediate wave of resentment — and one parody social media account.
    Alex Ritman, Variety, 29 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Some federal agents have been injured and several protesters have been charged with assault.
    Chris Megerian, Fortune, 27 Sep. 2025
  • Officers arrested Spears on one count of assault/family violence, and he was booked into the Arlington City Jail.
    Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 27 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • During the speech, however, Kemp periodically deviated from building up Astra to hurling insults at several of his competitors in the launch industry.
    Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 25 Sep. 2025
  • And as if a constant stream of social media vitriol wasn’t enough of an insult to the venerable lawns, they are subjected to constant meteorological insults as well.
    Paul Cappiello, Louisville Courier Journal, 24 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Yet Lupino brings such intensity and anger to her performance that the film’s register shifts into something far darker — so dark, in fact, that a prologue and epilogue Jack Warner insisted be added to make the movie more glamorous focus on a suicide attempt!
    Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 25 Sep. 2025
  • In the affidavit, a detective noted that Decker — who was divorced from his daughters’ mother — refused to sign a parenting plan that required him to seek mental health treatment and domestic violence anger management.
    Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 25 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • The attack came two weeks after conservative activist Charlie Kirk was assassinated at a university in Utah.
    Anna Giaritelli, The Washington Examiner, 25 Sep. 2025
  • Poor weather and battlefield obscurants continue to endanger warfighters as adversaries rely on these conditions to escape attacks.
    Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 30 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on offense

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