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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 lone blemish of the day was Daniels’ fumble, but otherwise the offense was excellent. Shreyas Laddha, Kansas City Star, 28 Sep. 2025 Again, the Dolphins just need the threat of big-time players to hopefully open up the offense for Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. Miami Herald, 28 Sep. 2025 Aaron Rodgers got the offense set at the line of scrimmage on fourth down, but the Steelers decided to take the delay-of-game penalty and punt the ball away instead of going for it on the Vikings’ 40-yarad line. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 28 Sep. 2025 Young guided the offense on a touchdown-scoring drive to begin the matchup, but his effectiveness waned as the Patriots piled on points. Charlotte Observer, 28 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • Tennessee law holds that those who committed crimes before 1999 can choose between being put to death by lethal injection or the electric chair.
    Evan Mealins, Nashville Tennessean, 3 Oct. 2025
  • The office's programming extends to other areas as well, including domestic violence, human trafficking and interacting with victims of crimes.
    David Clarey, jsonline.com, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • As Israel's military prepared last month to launch its ground offensive into Gaza City, the Israel Defense Forces published a warning about al-Kawthar Tower, a residential high-rise in the city.
    Kevin Shalvey, ABC News, 7 Oct. 2025
  • In return, Israel would halt its offensive and withdraw from much of Gaza, release hundreds of Palestinian prisoners and allow an influx of humanitarian aid and eventual reconstruction.
    SAM MEDNICK, Arkansas Online, 5 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • That Barcelona, who reached a fifth successive Champions League final last season, reduced their squad number because of a need to save money sparked outrage.
    Megan Feringa, New York Times, 7 Oct. 2025
  • The hamster wheel chain competition popped up on day 60 of Big Brother season 27 as part of the White Locust twist and once again made for undeniably riveting television, but this time, the fan reaction was something else — outrage.
    Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 6 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The only character who seems entirely transparent is Frederik, who can’t hide his resentment of his second-class spousal status or his contempt for the sycophants and mediocrities who cling to his wife like barnacles.
    Justin Chang, New Yorker, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Still working through residual resentments from last year, her lyrics this cycle often clash with the careful slickness of the production.
    Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The meeting came less than a week after investigators said 40-year-old Thomas Jacob Sanford of Burton, a former Marine, crashed a pickup truck into the Grand Blanc ward of the The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints before firing an assault-style rifle inside.
    Nour Rahal, Freep.com, 4 Oct. 2025
  • The agents were reportedly performing a routine patrol in Broadview, a suburb of Chicago, when the alleged assault occurred.
    Rachel Wolf, FOXNews.com, 4 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The insults have been flying in the back-and-forth, and there doesn’t appear to be an end in sight for at least the short term.
    Michael Saponara, Billboard, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Some others within the group interpreted Yahaya’s lyrics as an insult to the Prophet Muhammad.
    Sean Nelson, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Verbatim Reginald Dwayne Betts A 2012 essay from the American Poetry Review on poetry and the architecture of anger.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 3 Oct. 2025
  • Morocco Anti-government protests fueled by anger over Morocco pouring money into preparations for the 2030 World Cup instead of public services have raged in the country for nearly a week.
    Connor Greene, Time, 2 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The confirmation of drones over Germany comes as NATO's Denmark investigates a wave of drone disruption to its airports that officials have characterized as a hybrid attack, and coincides with Estonian, Polish, and Romanian accusations against Russia of serious airspace incursions.
    Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 Oct. 2025
  • Overseas activists have tried to deliver aid in the past to Gaza but have either been intercepted by Israeli forces or come under some form of attack.
    Billy Stockwell, CNN Money, 1 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 8 Oct. 2025.

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