OFFENCE Synonyms: 202 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

offense

noun

ə-ˈfen(t)s

variants or offence

Definition of offense

as in crime

a breaking of a moral or legal code wartime offenses that are crimes against all of humanity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in insult

an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings a diplomat never deliberately gives offense

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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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 Dodgers’ offense dipped back into the doldrums on Thursday — before Teoscar Hernández delivered a two-run walk-off double in the ninth to avoid the series sweep. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026 The touchdown snapped quite the drought of offense for Sanders’ squad, as the Buffaloes were able to find the end zone in the second quarter but couldn’t muster anything else until that game-winning touchdown late in the fourth. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 Look for the offense to open the playbook when the time comes. — Pj Green, Kansas City Star, 4 Sep. 2026 Ultimately, the offense’s success will come down to the running game. — Zach Berman, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for offense

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense

Noun

More than two dozen law enforcement officials, from crime analysts to chiefs of police, have been charged with violating their oaths of office and conducting unauthorized searches within the Flock Safety system in Georgia in the past few months.

— Irene Wright, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2026
The allegations in the federal indictment mirror those brought by Minnesota officials, who have separately charged Castro with assault and false reporting of a crime related to the nonfatal shooting of Sosa-Celis.

— Valerie Gonzalez, Los Angeles Times, 4 Sep. 2026

Definition of crime

Noun

The Commodity Futures Trading Commission has sued several states that have tried to treat prediction market sites as a form of gambling, a type of legal offensive the agency has never before embarked on.

— Bobby Allyn, NPR, 31 Aug. 2026
More than four decades ago, after months of setbacks in the war against Saddam Hussein’s Iraq, thousands of young Iranian troops launched a surprise offensive that turned the tide.

— Mostafa Salem, CNN Money, 30 Aug. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

He was subsequently dismissed by Dior and, months later, found guilty by a French court of making public insults based on origin, religion, race, or ethnicity.

— Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026
The arrest came after Kelley Wolf had reportedly made a series of hostile social media posts, which featured insults and allegations against various friends and family, including her ex-husband, Wolf.

— Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of insult

Noun

If Paul Baker wins, Nina will report the zoning violation that is their household.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 2 Sep. 2026
Other alleged violations — which total 23 in all — range from not having any smoke or carbon monoxide detectors throughout the property to failing to maintain the building in a structurally safe and stable condition.

— Tess Kenny, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

The other presidents had some semblance of comedic appreciation, whether through cynicism, irony, sarcasm, joke-telling, joke appreciation or storytelling.

— John Blumenthal, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Like all of Roth’s content, there is a mix of dead seriousness, dry sarcasm, and wondrous joy in equal measure.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sarcasm

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offends

offense

offenses

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“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 5 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of offense

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