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
Relevance
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
as in insulting
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offending
Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
The woman marked the offending area with red thread and put it aside, to be sent to the factory’s repair sector.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 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
The press, however—fearing backlash to its positive depiction of interracial romance—rewrote the conclusion without Grey’s knowledge or consent, killing off Nophaie and the offending prospect of miscegenation.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Second, having quickly been identified by internet bloodhounds, the actual offending Polish paving magnate issued a belligerent non-apology.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The offending message was removed after it was reported to the Greenwood Police Department.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 12 Aug. 2025
Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
In New Zealand, murder carries a mandatory life sentence and judges are required to set a prison term of at least 10 years before the offending person can apply for parole, according to the outlet.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Price hikes are almost always unpopular, but unveiling them immediately after offending subscribers, employees, politicians, and celebrities is tone-deaf and horribly timed.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
There was no accessible list of people supposedly celebrating Kirk’s murder, and a submissions portal for offending posts about him remained inactive.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
One assumes there will be widespread debate over the accuracy of Kimmel’s offending comments.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
This was never about offending Black people.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
To win an Allure Best of Beauty Clean award, a product cannot contain any of the offending ingredients to even be considered.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
When arthritis pain flares up, the area around the offending joint becomes inflamed and slightly acidic.
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
Verb
By Wednesday afternoon, DHS appears to have taken down the Von-offending video.
—Greg Evans, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
The woman marked the offending area with red thread and put it aside, to be sent to the factory’s repair sector.
—Lauren Collins, New Yorker, 15 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
The press, however—fearing backlash to its positive depiction of interracial romance—rewrote the conclusion without Grey’s knowledge or consent, killing off Nophaie and the offending prospect of miscegenation.
—Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
Second, having quickly been identified by internet bloodhounds, the actual offending Polish paving magnate issued a belligerent non-apology.
—Neal Rubin, Freep.com, 10 Sep. 2025
The offending message was removed after it was reported to the Greenwood Police Department.
—Ryan Murphy, IndyStar, 12 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Is the streamer afraid of offending hate groups by depicting them as hateful and/or groups?
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 24 Sep. 2025
In New Zealand, murder carries a mandatory life sentence and judges are required to set a prison term of at least 10 years before the offending person can apply for parole, according to the outlet.
—Gabrielle Rockson, PEOPLE, 23 Sep. 2025
Price hikes are almost always unpopular, but unveiling them immediately after offending subscribers, employees, politicians, and celebrities is tone-deaf and horribly timed.
—Scharon Harding, ArsTechnica, 23 Sep. 2025
There was no accessible list of people supposedly celebrating Kirk’s murder, and a submissions portal for offending posts about him remained inactive.
—Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2025
One assumes there will be widespread debate over the accuracy of Kimmel’s offending comments.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
This was never about offending Black people.
—Theo Burman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Sep. 2025
To win an Allure Best of Beauty Clean award, a product cannot contain any of the offending ingredients to even be considered.
—Sophia Panych, Allure, 16 Sep. 2025
When arthritis pain flares up, the area around the offending joint becomes inflamed and slightly acidic.
—New Atlas, 10 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Verb
-
During the 2022 incident, an unknown person motioned toward Newton to arrest Mitchell for trespassing.—
Caroline Zimmerman,
Kansas City Star,
30 Sep. 2025
-
Denver7 reported that authorities had received three reports of a suspicious person trespassing on private properties along State Highway 103 this week, including two properties on Peaceful Valley Lane in Idaho Springs on Monday.—
John Aguilar,
Denver Post,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
His defensiveness and insulting you and dismissing your feelings, in my opinion means he's emotionally attached to her, especially with the nickname.—
Meredith Wilshere,
PEOPLE,
4 Oct. 2025
-
The series of tests YouTuber Cody Detwiler put Ben the humanoid through a series of tasks after insulting him and programming him to consider humans as enemies.—
Atharva Gosavi,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
YouTube said creators terminated for copyright infringement or for violating its Creator Responsibility policies are not eligible.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Yet despite several apparent breakthroughs, Trump has in recent months repeatedly accused China of violating the terms.—
Elisabeth Buchwald,
CNN Money,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
These include offensive strategic weapons developments and missile defense initiatives that Russia views as threats to its nuclear deterrence.—
Amanda Castro,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Auburn hired Dillingham as offensive coordinator.—
Chris Vannini,
New York Times,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Margins for row-crop producers have thinned amid falling prices and high fertilizer costs.—
Jessica Coacci,
Fortune,
8 Oct. 2025
-
For millions of low-wage workers, these state-level adjustments mean a modest but tangible boost in take-home pay—often the difference between meeting basic needs and falling short.—
Aliss Higham,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Each issue is filled with breaking news, deep insights, and exclusive strategies for becoming a better traveler.—
Christopher Elliott,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
-
But ratings fell, and some staffers said that the broadcast had lost sight of viewers’ desire for breaking news headlines, as is highlighted on ABC’s World News Tonight, the ratings leader.—
Ted Johnson,
Deadline,
13 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Growing up, Amy claims her father, Terry Jordan, was emotionally abusive towards her and her mother and as a result, Deanna was not able to fully commit herself to parenting.—
Colson Thayer,
PEOPLE,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Greater transparency in pet purchases will bring to light abusive practices that take advantage of pets in order to exploit hopeful pet owners.—
Martha McHardy,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Mid-October will see the wandering body pass close to the star Alkaphrah, or Chi Ursae Majoris in the constellation Ursa Major, just below the 'dipper' portion of the Big Dipper asterism, before beating a path through the night sky towards the star Cor Caroli in the constellation Canes Venatici.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
10 Oct. 2025
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On his first night alone in the city, Alex is wandering around the Village and tries to get a drink at the Olive Tree Café, the fabled spot on MacDougal Street that’s attached to the Comedy Cellar (which is the floor below).—
Owen Gleiberman,
Variety,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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