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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 colors included yellow, orange and red — with yellow being less severe infractions and red meaning more severe offenses, said state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D- Orlando. Ana Ceballos, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025 His offense also can’t come at the cost of his defense. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025 If there was any day to generate offense, the Royals needed it Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City Star, 13 July 2025 The league isn’t getting smaller and the only reason our offense always struggles is because of pace and rebounding. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • Ramirez-Verduzco's case illuminates the risk some crime victims face when interacting with local law enforcement due to current federal immigration enforcement practices.
    Amanda Castro, MSNBC Newsweek, 15 July 2025
  • And my perfect ,wild ,fearless, loving partners in crime Colin, Cristin and Rhenzy made anything possible every day.
    Shania Russell, EW.com, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants are among the dead.
    WAFAA SHURAFA, Arkansas Online, 20 July 2025
  • An Israeli military offensive has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million people and caused widespread destruction.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Trump's demand for nearly 10 times that -- along with the threats that the U.S. might pull its troops from the country -- has previously drawn widespread outrage in the country, spurring calls by some for the development of South Korea's own nuclear arsenal.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • This creates an environment of disruption, resentment, siloes and even quiet rebellion against transformation efforts.
    Kamales Lardi, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
  • This attitude was further articulated by Schumer in July 2016, at a time when Trump’s appeal to working-class resentments was drawing massive crowds.
    Andrew Cockburn, Harpers Magazine, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.
    Jacky Wong, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
  • Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.
    Reuters, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
  • Adding insult, he was called for eight fouls in Tuesday night’s victory over the Golden State Warriors, with players allowed 10 in summer league, four above the regular-season maximum.
    Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 July 2025
  • Amid the mix of compliments and insults from obvious trolls, many thought ATB bore a striking resemblance to another member of the family.
    Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • Though Trump is backing away from Putin in public, he’s never specifically projected anger about the paused weapons for Ukraine.
    Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 9 July 2025
  • Music and song have changed the world in positive, enduring ways that fear, anger, and violence never have.
    Chris John Amorosino, Hartford Courant, 8 July 2025
Noun
  • The onslaught of attacks on transgender rights fueled Missouri lawmakers to enact a law in 2023 that banned gender-affirming care, including hormone therapy, puberty blockers and surgeries, for minors.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 11 July 2025
  • Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky kicked off the proceedings in Rome as Moscow pounded Ukraine’s capital with another major missile and drone attack overnight in some of the heaviest attacks on Kyiv in the more than three-year war.
    Nicole Winfield, Los Angeles Times, 11 July 2025

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Cite this Entry

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

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