as in insulting
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
1
as in trespassing
to commit an offense
since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outraging
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 violating
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 offending
Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
According to a separate memo sent to department employees, the return to Times New Roman takes effect Wednesday and all templates for official documents are to be updated to remove the offending Calibri font.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
Named after the former Boulder County Sheriff, the Joe Pelle Center is an alternative sentencing facility that will replace private halfway houses in the county and hopes to lower the chances of criminals re-offending.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Simons was the offending party on Bane’s swipe, and he was beaten for an and-one dunk in transition shortly thereafter.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Every year, crews treat about a quarter of the offending streams.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
By Wednesday afternoon, DHS appears to have taken down the Von-offending video.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
On hotter, stormier worlds, these reactions speed up, drawing more of the offending carbon dioxide into rock.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
For example, coordination with KYB providers can be effective for identifying other telecom assets under the control or ownership of the offending CSP.
—Peter Ford, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction Unless otherwise noted, no arrests were made in the above incidents.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Travelers often worry about coming off as rude or offending someone, but your personal safety is foremost, so trust your gut.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
Its safety initiatives, which about 15% of its staff work on, include using machine learning to identify and remove offending content and equipping community moderators to uphold its policies, its website shows.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
The offending artwork was taken down on Monday, the same day WaPo notified the agency.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
Musk said at that time that X decided to delete Lucre’s offending posts but to reinstate the right-wing influencer to the platform.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
Unnamed juveniles have also been listed as co-conspirators, and the ages that some are alleged to have begun offending are as young as 13 or 14, according to law enforcement.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Originally set in the South, CBS instructed Serling to change the setting, for fear of offending southern viewers.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Adjective
Many of the offending cooks got their paperwork in order and fixed their problems after some time.
—Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
According to a separate memo sent to department employees, the return to Times New Roman takes effect Wednesday and all templates for official documents are to be updated to remove the offending Calibri font.
—Matthew Lee, Fortune, 11 Dec. 2025
Named after the former Boulder County Sheriff, the Joe Pelle Center is an alternative sentencing facility that will replace private halfway houses in the county and hopes to lower the chances of criminals re-offending.
—Sarah Horbacewicz, CBS News, 19 Nov. 2025
Simons was the offending party on Bane’s swipe, and he was beaten for an and-one dunk in transition shortly thereafter.
—Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
Every year, crews treat about a quarter of the offending streams.
—Katie Thornton, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2025
By Wednesday afternoon, DHS appears to have taken down the Von-offending video.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
On hotter, stormier worlds, these reactions speed up, drawing more of the offending carbon dioxide into rock.
—Peter Brannen, Quanta Magazine, 15 Sep. 2025
For example, coordination with KYB providers can be effective for identifying other telecom assets under the control or ownership of the offending CSP.
—Peter Ford, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Verb
Who is this dude, and is Sanders worried about offending him?
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Jan. 2026
The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction Unless otherwise noted, no arrests were made in the above incidents.
—Adam Harrington, CBS News, 18 Jan. 2026
Travelers often worry about coming off as rude or offending someone, but your personal safety is foremost, so trust your gut.
—Patricia Doherty, Travel + Leisure, 14 Jan. 2026
Its safety initiatives, which about 15% of its staff work on, include using machine learning to identify and remove offending content and equipping community moderators to uphold its policies, its website shows.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 7 Jan. 2026
The offending artwork was taken down on Monday, the same day WaPo notified the agency.
—Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 7 Jan. 2026
Musk said at that time that X decided to delete Lucre’s offending posts but to reinstate the right-wing influencer to the platform.
—Lora Kolodny, CNBC, 6 Jan. 2026
Unnamed juveniles have also been listed as co-conspirators, and the ages that some are alleged to have begun offending are as young as 13 or 14, according to law enforcement.
—Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 1 Jan. 2026
Originally set in the South, CBS instructed Serling to change the setting, for fear of offending southern viewers.
—Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Adjective
-
Many researchers cite those exact words as insulting or wrong when asked about their own terminations.—
STAT Staff,
STAT,
29 Dec. 2025
-
With two toddlers and a 10-hour workday for her husband, the advice was more insulting than helpful.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
7 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Our shoulders, hands, and arms may pass through private airspace because the 10th Circuit Court ruled that’s not trespassing.—
Christine Peterson,
Outdoor Life,
7 Jan. 2026
-
The notice warned that anyone who remained could be subject to arrest for trespassing.—
David Hudnall,
Kansas City Star,
18 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Our military leaders would never go along with these actions violating their oath to the Constitution.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Ellison has said the government is violating free speech and other constitutional rights.—
Alanna Durkin Richer,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But unlike his son, Trent was an offensive lineman, per the Clarion Ledger.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith confirmed Thursday that the Tennessee Titans have reached out to interview him for their head coach opening.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This clown falling for all of it.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
-
When the New Year's rain began falling, coupled with a king tide, some towns in Marin got pretty soggy.—
John Ramos,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The Democratic Caucus said the fines are being assessed under rules enacted in 2023 specifically to punish Texas House Democrats for breaking quorum in 2021, when members left the state for 38 days to block GOP voting restrictions.—
S.E. Jenkins,
CBS News,
21 Jan. 2026
-
None of this was breaking news.—
Ryan Coleman,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
It’s been three years since McCurdy’s memoir cast a sharp eye on her life as a child actor — she’s best known for playing tough girl Samantha Puckett on the Nickelodeon sitcom iCarly — with a controlling, abusive mother.—
CT Jones,
Rolling Stone,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Riffing on classic mafia films, Sunny follows a female gangster who fights to protect her sons — and herself — from an abusive drug kingpin.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The video shows protesters wandering in and out of the street as officers persist in trying to talk them back.—
Hannah Fingerhut,
Twin Cities,
25 Jan. 2026
-
Protesters can be seen wandering in and out of the street as officers persist in trying to talk them back.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
24 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 28 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
