1
as in trespassed
to commit an offense
since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in insulted
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
the visitor unintentionally offended his hosts terribly by failing to compliment them on the elaborately prepared meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in violated
to fail to keep
offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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 offended
Of course, Potato Head shrugged when Roseanne Barr was fired by the same network – for a single tweet that offended a woman born in Iran.
—
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
If you are offended by what somebody says or does, then take up a political cause to fight back, not a gun, not a bomb, not a knife.
—NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
Others were offended by the variety of items in the dish.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
The novel, published to immediate controversy in India—an obscenity suit was filed over its portrayal of an intercaste romance—offended her Syrian Christian kin, who grumbled about misrepresentation.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
All this, plus Zwick gives indications of frustration with the perpetually offended.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
However, Jones became offended that Parsons wanted his agent involved after Jones felt the pair had a deal.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
They were offended that a film about cinema would end up with a streamer.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
The ultimate goal for Republicans elevating Martineau, or Cracker Barrel’s CEO, or anyone offended by Sydney Sweeney, is to incorporate those minor characters into the already weak Democratic brand.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Howie Carr, Boston Herald, 18 Sep. 2025
If you are offended by what somebody says or does, then take up a political cause to fight back, not a gun, not a bomb, not a knife.
—NBC news, 14 Sep. 2025
Others were offended by the variety of items in the dish.
—Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
The novel, published to immediate controversy in India—an obscenity suit was filed over its portrayal of an intercaste romance—offended her Syrian Christian kin, who grumbled about misrepresentation.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 3 Sep. 2025
All this, plus Zwick gives indications of frustration with the perpetually offended.
—John Tamny, Forbes.com, 2 Sep. 2025
However, Jones became offended that Parsons wanted his agent involved after Jones felt the pair had a deal.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 29 Aug. 2025
They were offended that a film about cinema would end up with a streamer.
—Scott Feinberg, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2025
The ultimate goal for Republicans elevating Martineau, or Cracker Barrel’s CEO, or anyone offended by Sydney Sweeney, is to incorporate those minor characters into the already weak Democratic brand.
—David Weigel, semafor.com, 25 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offended
Verb
-
The suspect is also believed to have trespassed at a property on Ute Creek Road in Idaho Springs on Thursday morning, Denver7 reported.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
-
Marine Corps records showed the same man previously trespassed on Camp Pendleton in September 2022, September 2023 and May 27 of this year, according to the agent.—
Alex Riggins,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
24 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Her collectedness collapses as Johnson turns the joke into a physical act-out, becoming almost insulted that this earthquake dared to frighten her.—
Kathryn VanArendonk,
Vulture,
15 Sep. 2025
-
Last September, when news broke that another friend of Kraus’s, the journalist Olivia Nuzzi, had exchanged intimate texts with Kennedy, Kraus wrote a Substack post accusing Nuzzi of ensnaring Kennedy and insulted her looks on Instagram.—
Clare Malone,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Days later, on September 13, Russian drones violated Romanian airspace, prompting Bucharest to scramble fighter jets.—
Frederik Pleitgen,
CNN Money,
2 Oct. 2025
-
In another lawsuit, lawyers argue that the First Amendment rights of detainees are being violated because attorneys face challenges in meeting with their clients at the site.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Onscreen, a bridezilla sent an equivalent table soaring through a banquet hall, felling at least one chandelier.—
Vince Aletti,
New Yorker,
3 Oct. 2025
-
They’re supposed to do fine in extreme heat and snow, though residents of other cities have had to rescue them when they’ve been felled by weather.—
Scottie Andrew,
CNN Money,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The move outraged leading Democrats.—
Franco Ordoñez,
NPR,
2 Oct. 2025
-
As if to prove the magnificent treasures within Paris now belonged to the German dictator, the statue of Great War French hero General Mangin—which outraged the Führer—was destroyed.—
Christopher C. Gorham
September 29,
Literary Hub,
29 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Valora had previously wandered away from home in 2020 and was later found a few hours later at a nearby church, according to the site.—
David Chiu,
PEOPLE,
1 Oct. 2025
-
From a tiny blind dog who wandered the streets of North Carolina, to a sweet boxer mix struggling with kennel stress in Texas, here are some recent shelter stories from across the country.—
Real-Time News team,
Miami Herald,
26 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offended.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offended. Accessed 7 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share