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
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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
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
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
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
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Adjective
-
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
-
Instead, this just looks like virtue signaling to justify his controversial move to Baton Rouge, which is insulting to people actually affected by what the University of Mississippi represents.—
Bobby Burack OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Walking on private ground without permission is clearly trespassing in Montana.—
Natalie Krebs,
Outdoor Life,
14 May 2026
-
Residents of the Pyramid Acres subdivision in southwest Tarrant County say landowner Nancy Rimmer has unlawfully blocked their access to Bear Creek, a navigable public waterway, by posting no-trespassing signs, installing surveillance cameras and hiring armed guards.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
6 May 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
-
Spencer Pratt filed a formal complaint accusing his opponent, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, of violating election laws by allegedly campaigning too close to a ballot box.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
27 May 2026
-
Two years later, the FBI raided the apartment of the company's founder, Shayne Coplan, as part of a probe into whether Polymarket was violating that agreement.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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His heroics in the comeback victory — which also included a record-setting performance from the bullpen — were a high point in his offensive turnaround the last two weeks.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2026
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The Bruins continued their offensive assault as catcher Alexis Ramirez crushed a pitch over the right field wall in the top of the fourth inning for a solo home run that extended the lead to 3-1.—
Matt Murschel,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 May 2026
Verb
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Colorado went from being the odds-on favorite to win the Stanley Cup to falling eight wins short of that goal in a span of seven days.—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
27 May 2026
-
Lee had fouled off a pair of pitches to begin the at-bat, falling behind 0-2 before his big swing.—
Betsy Helfand,
Twin Cities,
27 May 2026
Verb
-
After a strikeout for the second out, Newport batter Noah Whitaker, with Horsley breaking for third base and Hatfield for second, was called out for batter’s interference on Ganesha catcher Dyson Grant’s throw to second base, a throw that sailed into center field.—
Steve Fryer,
Oc Register,
27 May 2026
-
Wallen previously lodged 37 song entries, breaking his previous record of 36 entries in a single week.—
Steven J. Horowitz,
Variety,
26 May 2026
Adjective
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Other titles include The Woman in White, about diplomat and political operative Tamar Golan, and Out at Six, examining abusive relationships.—
Scott Roxborough,
HollywoodReporter,
26 May 2026
-
Michael is given more space to grapple with his monstrous, abusive father.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
26 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 28 May. 2026.
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