variants
or offence
1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code
wartime offenses that are crimes against all of humanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offensive
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
combat casualties grew enormously as the weapons of offense became far more technologically advanced than defensive armor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outrage
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
a diplomat never deliberately gives offense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in resentment
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity
my mother was prone to take offense even at the most innocent remark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of offense
License plate data is only collected to issue fines for speeding and will not be utilized for other potential offenses, Bajek said.
—
Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
This is an obvious chips-in move for them after their half-court offense face-planted against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 June 2025
After dealing for George Pickens with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bryant thinks the Cowboys’ offense can explode this year.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2025
The addition of Durant would have helped the Heat’s struggling offense, as Miami has finished with a bottom-10 offensive rating in each of the last three regular seasons.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for offense
Maya Wilkins, Chicago Tribune, 23 June 2025
This is an obvious chips-in move for them after their half-court offense face-planted against the Golden State Warriors in the first round of the playoffs.
—John Hollinger, New York Times, 22 June 2025
After dealing for George Pickens with the Pittsburgh Steelers, Bryant thinks the Cowboys’ offense can explode this year.
—Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 22 June 2025
The addition of Durant would have helped the Heat’s struggling offense, as Miami has finished with a bottom-10 offensive rating in each of the last three regular seasons.
—Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
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In her 30-year career, Laura has won numerous national awards for coverage of human trafficking, child welfare, crime and government secrecy.—
Laura Bauer,
Kansas City Star,
23 June 2025
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Her only 'crime' seems to be coming from the 'wrong' country.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
Noun
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Russian casualties fighting against Ukraine have surpassed 1 million, according to Kyiv's military, as ceasefire negotiations yield little progress and Moscow ramps up its summer offensive.—
Ellie Cook
John Feng,
MSNBC Newsweek,
12 June 2025
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The community became a touchpoint in the nearly 14-year Syrian civil war that ended with the fall of former President Bashar Assad in a lightning rebel offensive in December.—
Omar Albam,
Los Angeles Times,
9 June 2025
Noun
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In an environment where virality often outperforms veracity, the temptation rises: optimize for engagement, lean into outrage and co-opt the aesthetic of authenticity without accountability.—
ByLyric Mandell,
Forbes.com,
20 June 2025
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Months of arrests in Charlotte ICE has been making increasingly public arrests in Mecklenburg County over the last several months, stoking fear and outrage.—
Ryan Oehrli,
Charlotte Observer,
20 June 2025
Noun
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This case isn’t grounded in facts or law; it’s fueled by resentment.—
Gene Maddaus,
Variety,
10 June 2025
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No one wants to carry bad vibes and resentment around anymore, so the energy will be pleasant and fortuitous.—
Lisa Stardust,
Vogue,
10 June 2025
Noun
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Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.—
Jacky Wong,
WSJ,
6 Feb. 2023
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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
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The president and the governor are having a momentous fight about constitutional rights in the courts, and flaming each other with insults and photoshopped memes on Truth Social and X. The ICE raids have thrown some Angelenos into a state of fear and virtual hiding.—
Julia Wick,
Los Angeles Times,
14 June 2025
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And while many residents and officials in Los Angeles have sought to tamp down reactions to the sometimes-violent protests, President Donald Trump and his administration have appeared to fan the flames, hurling insults in social media posts and encouraging an aggressive response to protests.—
Pamela Avila,
USA Today,
11 June 2025
Noun
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And so when something went wrong or something went against his wishes, why, there would be a display of anger.—
Ray Long,
Chicago Tribune,
15 June 2025
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Brown was also instructed to attend an anger management program and undergo a psychological/psychiatric evaluation.—
Bob Harkins,
New York Times,
14 June 2025
Noun
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Iran, previously saying its nuclear program is solely for civilian purposes, has hit back with waves of missile attacks on Israel.—
Amira El-Fekki,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 June 2025
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Kernodle received a delivery less than 10 minutes before the attack, which happened just after 4 a.m. on Nov. 13, 2022.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
17 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 27 Jun. 2025.
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