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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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 Rycroft Strickland was arrested on suspicion of a second offense of driving while intoxicated, causing an accident involving damage of more than $200, and driving with an invalid license. — Shambhavi Rimal, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 4 Nov. 2026 First-year Bruins coach Bob Chesney was not pleased with his offense's performance in last week's 27-0 win over Nevada, which held the Big Ten's top rushing team to 125 yards. — ABC News, 4 Nov. 2026 Trump could partially shield Musk from some federal enforcement actions and even pardon him if federal criminal offenses were found. — Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 4 Nov. 2026 That could make the Irish writer’s support a criminal offense. — Mark Rice-Oxley, Christian Science Monitor, 3 Nov. 2026 See All Example Sentences for offense

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense

Noun

The former prince has repeatedly denied committing any crimes.

— Danica Kirka, Los Angeles Times, 31 Oct. 2026
In the 1980s Americans became gripped with satanic panic, the fear that Satan worshippers were committing heinous crimes against children.

— Jordana Rosenfeld, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of crime

Noun

Ukrainian officials say that the offensive has disrupted Russia’s assault on Sloviansk and Kramatorsk, key Ukrainian strongholds in the Donbas region.

— Anastasiia Parafeniuk, NBC news, 23 Oct. 2026
Advertisement Leaders contemplating an October surprise or an offensive after the midterms must remember that uncomfortable truth.

— Ali Vaez, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of offensive

Noun

Despite his notoriously fiery TV persona, the Gordon Ramsay meal kit doesn’t include any pre-packaged insults or threats to shut your kitchen down — just easy-to-follow recipe cards.

— Robert Channick, Chicago Tribune, 2 Nov. 2026
Gillies was surprised to learn in researching the docu that the programmers came up with a rating system for calculating the relative weight of insults.

— Will Tizard, Variety, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of insult

Noun

Industry support When Corral’s exit from Movistar Plus was announced last year, there was an outpouring of anger, grief and concern from Spain’s creative community that is rarely afforded to a commissioning executive.

— Jesse Whittock, Deadline, 30 Oct. 2026
The person reading the issue lowered it to reveal a face tense with anger, devilishly exaggerated by his thin black beard and mustache.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 Oct. 2026

Definition of anger

Noun

That was true in its yeshiva reform efforts when hesitant and understaffed local districts were charged with investigations and, even when violations were substantiated, the schools couldn’t be closed down.

— David Bloomfield, New York Daily News, 1 Nov. 2026
But that still amounts to 79 inquiries now being double-checked for a possible violation of policy.

— Graham Hurley, CNN Money, 1 Nov. 2026

Definition of violation

Noun

Marshall's campaign, for its part, bet heavily on an attack ad surrounding claims that Hamilton protected a pedophile.

— Grace Hills, NPR, 4 Nov. 2026
In the Dnipro area, rescuers pulled a woman alive from the rubble Tuesday morning, after a Russian attack killed one person and wounded 17, local authorities said.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 4 Nov. 2026

Definition of attack

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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 6 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of offense

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