as in insulting
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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
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Recent Examples of offending
Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Emma wriggled obediently out of the offending articles.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
The owner of the offending Bin Ladin-esque wall earned the money to build said wall thanks to an apparently successful series of books combining New Age quackery and extraterrestrial quackery.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Washington qualifies for an additional life sentence for re-offending after being released from prison, prosecutors said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
If a team has a second offense under this proposal, the offending team would be given a 5-yard penalty.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
British newspapers had not reported on the relationship, and American magazines had offending articles cut out before going on sale.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
When the ejection element was added in 2013, the offending player also had to leave the sideline.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Northern publishers expurgated literary texts for fear of offending slaveholders; antislavery publications were barred from being mailed in the South.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Police said that through witness statements and security footage from the area, officers were able to identify the offending vehicle and searched the area.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Who is this dude, and is Sanders worried about offending him?
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 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
Adjective
The BAFTAs air on a two-hour delay, more than enough time to remove the offending outburst from the broadcast.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Emma wriggled obediently out of the offending articles.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
The owner of the offending Bin Ladin-esque wall earned the money to build said wall thanks to an apparently successful series of books combining New Age quackery and extraterrestrial quackery.
—Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 11 Feb. 2026
Washington qualifies for an additional life sentence for re-offending after being released from prison, prosecutors said.
—David Goodhue, Miami Herald, 5 Feb. 2026
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
Verb
O'Herrin notes that chopping down the offending tree is not going solve your issue in the long term.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
If a team has a second offense under this proposal, the offending team would be given a 5-yard penalty.
—Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026
British newspapers had not reported on the relationship, and American magazines had offending articles cut out before going on sale.
—ABC News, 22 Feb. 2026
When the ejection element was added in 2013, the offending player also had to leave the sideline.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2026
Northern publishers expurgated literary texts for fear of offending slaveholders; antislavery publications were barred from being mailed in the South.
—Jake Lundberg, The Atlantic, 12 Feb. 2026
Police said that through witness statements and security footage from the area, officers were able to identify the offending vehicle and searched the area.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 3 Feb. 2026
Who is this dude, and is Sanders worried about offending him?
—Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 20 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Adjective
-
Prestianni, who has denied racially insulting Vinícius and has been defended by Benfica, was provisionally suspended for one match by UEFA and did not play in the second leg.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
1 Mar. 2026
-
According to the Tourette Association of America, between 10 and 15% of people living with the disorder have vocal tics that may include disturbing, insulting or inappropriate language, including swear words and slurs.—
Anastasia Tsioulcas,
NPR,
23 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The city discourages trespassing on private property.—
Doug Ross,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
But then the forests themselves start coming to life when they’re not supposed to, consuming the humans unwittingly trespassing on their land.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Yuen and Wai have pleaded not guilty to violating the National Security Act by assisting a foreign intelligence service between December 2023 and May 2024 and committing foreign interference by trying to force their way into a home.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
That same month, the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office charged him with one count of violating the Kansas Offender Registration Act.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Adjective
-
Darnold had played for the offensive coordinator.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
9 Mar. 2026
-
In comparison, the Rams managed just six offensive boards and seven second-chance points.—
Shaun Goodwin,
Idaho Statesman,
8 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Also Monday, the Pakistan Stock Exchange plunged, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index falling nearly 10% amid rising geopolitical tensions following attacks on Iran.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Mar. 2026
-
Try to find a place that will block blowing or falling debris.—
CA Weather Bot,
Sacbee.com,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
This is a breaking news story and will be updated.—
Nathaniel Meyersohn,
CNN Money,
3 Mar. 2026
-
The first and only previous time someone was charged with breaking this law happened in April 2021.—
Jay Weaver,
The Orlando Sentinel,
3 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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Lawyers and advocates for a woman charged with killing her abusive ex-boyfriend railed against prosecutors’ offer of a plea deal and probation Tuesday and renewed their calls for the Cook County state’s attorney’s office to drop the charges altogether.—
Caroline Kubzansky,
Chicago Tribune,
3 Mar. 2026
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In her new memoir You With the Sad Eyes, published Tuesday, the Married…With Children actress reflects on the long-term relationship with an abusive boyfriend that began in her late teens.—
Mekishana Pierre,
Entertainment Weekly,
3 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Style it with ballet flats for an afternoon of city wandering, swap in streamlined sneakers for a full day on your feet, or add boots for dinner reservations.—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
7 Mar. 2026
-
The tiny pieces of debris are thought to have been shed by wandering comets or created en masse following asteroid collisions, though a 2021 study based on data collected by NASA's Juno spacecraft suggests that Mars may be the actual source of the dusty particles.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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