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 insult
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 anger
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
The Bills only had 167 yards of offense for the game prior to that drive.
—
Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Three of the 40 men interviewed by the New York Times faced criminal accusations beyond immigration and traffic offenses.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Sunday marked the second straight game the Bengals allowed 500 or more yards of total offense.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
In fact, calling 911 without a real emergency is against the law in Kentucky and could result in a range of consequences from fines to jail time to a felony offense.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offense
Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Three of the 40 men interviewed by the New York Times faced criminal accusations beyond immigration and traffic offenses.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Sunday marked the second straight game the Bengals allowed 500 or more yards of total offense.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
In fact, calling 911 without a real emergency is against the law in Kentucky and could result in a range of consequences from fines to jail time to a felony offense.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
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The charges Dasjanae Teyona Timmons, a 23-year-old with a Jessup address, and Dahmira Monya Laboo, another 23-year-old with a Severn address, were identified as suspects in the crime.—
Andrew Adeolu,
CBS News,
10 Jan. 2026
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Tyrone Williams faces 10 charges in Roxbury District Court, including multiple assault and firearms charges, compounded by having a previous violent crime or drug crime conviction.—
Flint McColgan,
Boston Herald,
10 Jan. 2026
Noun
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That’s with a 44 percent offensive-zone starting percentage.—
Scott Powers,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
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David Ellison launched his WBD offensive shortly after closing the Paramount Skydance merger in August with a trio of unsolicited offers for the entire company, all rejected.—
Dominic Patten,
Deadline,
3 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Weston said stripping Andrew of the medal would be an insult to those who have served in the British armed forces.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
In popular discourse, the word has taken on a life of its own, as an insult deployed without clear reference to any theory of psychology.—
David Merritt Johns,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Did the man go too far, or was his anger justified?—
Kristie Keleshian,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
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As Blacc hinted at, there is more than a little anger to go around about what happened before, during and since the fires, along with the sorrow and thousand other emotions.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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The most common template for an insider trading violation is as follows.—
Samidh Guha,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
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In Chicago, the indelible image of a pastor in a clerical collar shot in the head with a pepper ball by agents standing on the rooftop of an ICE building is a direct violation of CBP’s use of force policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Good's defenders – including city and state leaders – are calling what happened an unjustified attack; federal authorities say the agent was acting in self-defense.—
Thao Nguyen,
USA Today,
9 Jan. 2026
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In Kyiv, a CNN reporter said that the attack began around midnight, starting with multiple drone strikes on residential buildings.—
Kosta Gak,
CNN Money,
9 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Cleveland says narcissists often disguise sarcasm as humor, slipping in cutting remarks about your intelligence, competence, or appearance but framing them as playful.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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While the track leans toward sarcasm, the soon-to-be-anthem perfectly captures a generational sentiment.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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As much as Payton bristles about media storylines and huffs about tempo questions, the Broncos went 25 minutes without a first down against Las Vegas.—
Troy Renck,
Denver Post,
22 Nov. 2025
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After 36 minutes of cagey huff-and-puff, Arsenal’s clean-sheet record was spoiled again in game nine of their run, though, as in 1903, their undefeatedness in that stretch was to remain intact.—
Michael Walker,
New York Times,
10 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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