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
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Recent Examples of offending
Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Apr. 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
But Setrakian claimed California and Texas law protect public officials from defamation claims even in fundraising so long as the offending comments can be reasonably connected to his official duties.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 6 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
But instead of simply coating the offending area with air freshener or lighting a candle to mask the odor, learn how to address unwanted smells at the source.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
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
News Desk, Artforum, 1 May 2026
The image of an officer peering into the empty driver’s seat of the offending vehicle may have been good for a chuckle, but other incidents have been no laughing matter.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Their offending products could also be blocked in the state.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Public supporters of the fines agreed that civil procedures against offending landlords were more expensive and time consuming than introducing higher fees.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Use your quick wit when asking questions to avoid accidentally offending anyone.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
The person who is the daughter’s supervisor is probably worried about offending the parent who also is her coworker.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The consequences of offending Miss Manners at this distance are, unfortunately, slight.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
Adjective
By the next day, Google had pulled down the offending videos.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Apr. 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
But Setrakian claimed California and Texas law protect public officials from defamation claims even in fundraising so long as the offending comments can be reasonably connected to his official duties.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 6 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
But instead of simply coating the offending area with air freshener or lighting a candle to mask the odor, learn how to address unwanted smells at the source.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
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
Verb
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
The image of an officer peering into the empty driver’s seat of the offending vehicle may have been good for a chuckle, but other incidents have been no laughing matter.
—Karen Garcia, Los Angeles Times, 1 May 2026
Their offending products could also be blocked in the state.
—Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 1 May 2026
The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Public supporters of the fines agreed that civil procedures against offending landlords were more expensive and time consuming than introducing higher fees.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Use your quick wit when asking questions to avoid accidentally offending anyone.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
The person who is the daughter’s supervisor is probably worried about offending the parent who also is her coworker.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The consequences of offending Miss Manners at this distance are, unfortunately, slight.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Adjective
-
The mayor at the time, Dean Koldenhoven, vetoed the buyout, calling it insulting to Muslims.—
Angie Leventis Lourgos,
Chicago Tribune,
3 May 2026
-
For filmmakers who view their individual work as the center of gravity, this can sit somewhere between confusing and insulting.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Hours after his release, North Patrol Deputies responded to a business near Fair Oaks Boulevard and San Lucas Way for a report of the same man trespassing on property.—
Nicole Buss,
Sacbee.com,
3 May 2026
-
While monitoring predators at Python Cave — which is home to Egyptian fruit bats confirmed to be infected with the virus — in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park, scientists recorded hundreds of humans trespassing to visit the area.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
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
-
The Appeal-Democrat newspaper reported in a police blotter article last summer that Daniels was arrested on July 11 on suspicion of drug possession and violating parole, and he was booked then at the Yuba County Jail.—
Rosalio Ahumada,
Sacbee.com,
6 May 2026
-
He was twice arrested for protesting on OpenAI’s San Francisco campus, and arrested again in 2025 for violating a judge’s order not to return.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
6 May 2026
Adjective
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Plummer even had time to throw, as the offensive line held up in protection and kept the quarterback upright then entire game.—
Chris Hays,
The Orlando Sentinel,
4 May 2026
-
Last year’s Red Sox were a top-10 team in several offensive metrics, but the struggles to capitalize were always there.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Hartford Courant,
3 May 2026
Verb
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Bishop Moore junior Lucas Magro went 2-1 in the individual singles bracket and took the top seed, William Freshwater of Barron Collier, to a tiebreaker before falling 1-6, 6-1, (10-3).—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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But the Pistons were sloppy with the ball and careless overall in a 94-88 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night, falling behind 3-1 in their first-round Eastern Conference series.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The passengers include the requisite obnoxious jerk, Dan (Angus Sampson), already throwing his weight around and breaking no-smoking rules at LAX.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In this best-selling memoir, Foo investigates the repercussions of complex PTSD (C-PTSD) caused by her abusive parents and her subsequent estrangement from each of them in turn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
-
Someone that was that abusive to children in plain sight doesn’t deserve to be celebrated as a human being.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 9 May. 2026.
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