1
as in falls
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 insults
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 violates
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
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offends
Tallulah asks, shocked, which offends Maia.
—
Leia Mendoza, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
Think of the chatbots that enrage customers, copy that erases brand voice, email that offends prospects, or sales outreach that overwhelms without engaging.
—Andrea Hill, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Leia Mendoza, Variety, 8 Oct. 2025
Think of the chatbots that enrage customers, copy that erases brand voice, email that offends prospects, or sales outreach that overwhelms without engaging.
—Andrea Hill, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offends
Verb
-
When fear takes over, the price often falls well below its value.—
Steve Booren,
Denver Post,
19 Oct. 2025
-
The movement of aid has increased through Israel’s border, but on a scale that Palestinians say falls short of the needs of a destitute populace.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Attorney General Pam Bondi insults Democrats in Senate hearing.—
Sudiksha Kochi,
USA Today,
8 Oct. 2025
-
In the case of Governor Pritzker insults his body, body shamed him.—
Khaleda Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Their lawyers argue that the removal of the books violates federal and state free speech protections.—
Ann Schimke,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
-
The program violates not only the First Amendment but also the Administrative Procedure Act, a federal law about how agencies are allowed to operate, the lawsuit argues.—
David Ingram,
NBC news,
16 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Content that outrages, polarizes or triggers anxiety keeps us watching.—
Avital Pardo,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
When Rashid wanders into the office, Vahid stops his call — there’s something about this man’s shuffle that strikes him as familiar.—
David Fear,
Rolling Stone,
16 Oct. 2025
-
In the wake of a messy divorce, a writer wanders the world in search of meaning and passion in this loose adaptation of Elizabeth Gilbert’s popular memoir.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
But the corporate chiefs also know that Trump is a vengeful man with the power to target anyone who speaks out against him, or any business that displeases him.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
26 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Although the film strays drastically from Stephen King's novel, Stanley Kubrick's The Shining is a complex film that teeters between the psychological and supernatural horror subgenres.—
Steven Thrash,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Balenciaga strays away from a more experimental fashion approach the maison has been pushing under Demna, but also under its founder.—
Alex Wynne,
Footwear News,
5 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offends. Accessed 23 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share