as in insulting
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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
Oc Register, 18 May 2026
Charles has since apologized and deleted the offending TikTok, but the controversy continues, igniting social media discourse.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
By the next day, Google had pulled down the offending videos.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 May 2026
Place a bowl of coffee grounds in the offending area (or, in the case of your shoes, place dry grounds in an old sock or cloth tied up and leave overnight inside the shoe) and let the grounds absorb unpleasant odors, says Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning Unlimited.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Co-offending refers to when two or more offenders participate in a crime.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
The Washington Post, which broke the news, ran the offending word in both its headline and story.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Something seems to be afoot, since the offending robots were operated by two different companies.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
The Defringe option in Affinity improves matters, but the software doesn't have an eyedropper to hone in on the offending shade of magenta.
—Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
As soon as the customers would walk out of sight, the drivers would take photos of the offending vehicle, then back their flatbeds into place and load them up, usually within a couple of minutes.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 3 June 2026
In an effort to send a message to any minors planning to descend on the Jersey Shore for a weekend of lawbreaking and recklessness, Vaz is vowing to prosecute both the offending child and their parents.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
The offending symbol still stays there and demands to be dealt with.
—Charlotte Maracina, USA Today, 20 May 2026
The no-escape rule says that after a penalty is called and play stops, the remaining players on the offending team cannot change.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Today, some of the offending posts are gone.
—Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The collection was packed away in the museum’s vault, untouched for decades to avoid offending Islamic values or creating the appearance of catering to Western sensibilities.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Baselitz was charged with offending public morality; the case dragged on for two years before being dismissed, but his reputation was cemented.
—News Desk, Artforum, 1 May 2026
Adjective
Occasionally, some nitwit will play chicken with the offending lane changer, get in front of him or her, and stop the car in the middle of the road to continue with verbal and nonverbal critique of the offender’s driving skills.
—Oc Register, 18 May 2026
Charles has since apologized and deleted the offending TikTok, but the controversy continues, igniting social media discourse.
—Dani Di Placido, Forbes.com, 15 May 2026
By the next day, Google had pulled down the offending videos.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 14 May 2026
Place a bowl of coffee grounds in the offending area (or, in the case of your shoes, place dry grounds in an old sock or cloth tied up and leave overnight inside the shoe) and let the grounds absorb unpleasant odors, says Rocky Vuong, founder of Calibre Cleaning Unlimited.
—Alexandra Kelly, Martha Stewart, 9 May 2026
Co-offending refers to when two or more offenders participate in a crime.
—Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 1 May 2026
The Washington Post, which broke the news, ran the offending word in both its headline and story.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
Something seems to be afoot, since the offending robots were operated by two different companies.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
The Defringe option in Affinity improves matters, but the software doesn't have an eyedropper to hone in on the offending shade of magenta.
—Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
Verb
So the Devil orders the father to cut off his daughter’s offending hands.
—Literary Hub, 3 June 2026
As soon as the customers would walk out of sight, the drivers would take photos of the offending vehicle, then back their flatbeds into place and load them up, usually within a couple of minutes.
—Kelsy Mittauer, CBS News, 3 June 2026
In an effort to send a message to any minors planning to descend on the Jersey Shore for a weekend of lawbreaking and recklessness, Vaz is vowing to prosecute both the offending child and their parents.
—Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2026
The offending symbol still stays there and demands to be dealt with.
—Charlotte Maracina, USA Today, 20 May 2026
The no-escape rule says that after a penalty is called and play stops, the remaining players on the offending team cannot change.
—Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 18 May 2026
Today, some of the offending posts are gone.
—Toby Axelrod, Sun Sentinel, 11 May 2026
The collection was packed away in the museum’s vault, untouched for decades to avoid offending Islamic values or creating the appearance of catering to Western sensibilities.
—ABC News, 8 May 2026
Baselitz was charged with offending public morality; the case dragged on for two years before being dismissed, but his reputation was cemented.
—News Desk, Artforum, 1 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Adjective
-
These character endnotes, whether they’re read as youthful naiveté or an insulting interpretation of youthful naiveté, contribute to the finale’s bitter aftertaste.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
1 June 2026
-
The comments were not well received, with locals telling BBC Scotland News that the description was insulting and did not reflect the people in the area.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
As if breaking the law would offer a symbolic release from this double bind, the third video documents Liden trespassing into the apartment of an anonymous hoarder.—
Erika Landström,
Artforum,
2 June 2026
-
Walking on private ground without permission is clearly trespassing in Montana.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
Verb
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On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.—
Justin Fishel,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Both Israel and Hezbollah — which was not party to the ceasefire — accuse each other daily of violating the truce.—
Khaled Wassef,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
-
Section 301 allows the USTR to investigate countries potentially violating other nations’ trade agreements or practices that hurt US business.—
David Goldman,
CNN Money,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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As advertised, Swanson remains a peak defender, and his offensive production can be particularly streaky.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
7 June 2026
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Star forward Christian Pulisic broke his monthslong goal drought against Senegal, and defender Antonee Robinson wowed with his offensive playmaking.—
Becky Sullivan,
NPR,
7 June 2026
Verb
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Like India, Indonesia has been wrestling with a falling currency, and on May 20, the country's central bank raised its policy interest rates by a larger-than-expected 50 basis points.—
Sri Jegarajah,Priyanka Salve,
CNBC,
3 June 2026
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Anyone who likes keeping the balcony doors open at night and falling asleep to the sound of crashing waves should enjoy the Ocean Rooms.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
Verb
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Even those of us who aren’t actively breaking still feel the malaise.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 June 2026
-
Arenado’s 33rd career home run against the Dodgers came in the seventh inning on Monday night, bringing an outstanding start by Emmet Sheehan to a crashing halt and breaking a 1-1 tie.—
Bill Plunkett,
Oc Register,
2 June 2026
Adjective
-
Brown’s action added fuel to reports of behind-the-scenes tension after a 2024 Rolling Stone investigation dug into cast member Jonathan Van Ness’ alleged emotionally abusive behavior.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
1 June 2026
-
Her mother’s family left Mexico to flee from the abusive nature of her maternal grandfather.—
Carlos De Loera,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 9 Jun. 2026.
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