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
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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
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Recent Examples of offends
Very little offends me in a moral sense in the theater, but parts of this script came close.
—
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Obviously the blandness of a tan wall offends them.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
If that language offends you — come on.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
If one employee offends another, they are fired on the spot.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
To admit what hurts, agitates, and offends us in fact illuminates what is complicated and good in us.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
The Intel case offends two basic economic truths.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 23 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
Chris Jones, Chicago Tribune, 27 Apr. 2026
Obviously the blandness of a tan wall offends them.
—Joan Morris, Mercury News, 9 Mar. 2026
If that language offends you — come on.
—Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 11 Jan. 2026
If one employee offends another, they are fired on the spot.
—Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 8 Jan. 2026
To admit what hurts, agitates, and offends us in fact illuminates what is complicated and good in us.
—Literary Hub, 10 Dec. 2025
The Intel case offends two basic economic truths.
—Veronique De Rugy, Oc Register, 23 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
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On both sides of the street, the sidewalk rises and falls, uprooted and cracked by shallow roots because over many decades, the trees were not properly maintained.—
Steve Lopez,
Los Angeles Times,
9 May 2026
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The youngest Issa falls somewhere in between her sisters’ styles.—
Eve Chen,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
Verb
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Ohm quickly insults nearly every employee at this small hotel within moments of meeting them, except for the young, pretty bartender, Fiona (Florence Ordesh).—
ABC News,
ABC News,
29 Apr. 2026
-
Saariaho never once loses control of momentum and never insults her own tastefulness.—
Justin Davidson,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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The second problem with a moratorium on calling your opponents authoritarian is that Trump himself routinely violates it.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
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Critics and rights groups have said the DHS campaign violates due process and free speech.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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This baffles and outrages Angela, a protective mom who, with other parents, pushes back against Gabor using her math classroom as a forum for introducing the outside world’s worst actions.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
7 Apr. 2026
-
The content outrages some people and delights others; publishing more of it advances the meta discourse that’s been layered on top of the actual news, drawing attention from the unfolding conflict itself.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
14 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The New Zealand singer-songwriter wanders around inside her psychedelic folk arrangements, singing in private riddles and changing the tone of her voice from one song (or even one verse) to the next, seemingly oblivious or indifferent to your presence.—
Jayson Greene,
Pitchfork,
8 May 2026
-
For animal lovers, there’s a house cat that wanders the property, and morning walks may include up-close encounters with Highland cows or a free-roaming peacock.—
Emily Longeretta,
Variety,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Patel hasn’t been reluctant to fight back against reporting that displeases him.—
David Bauder,
Twin Cities,
23 Apr. 2026
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Cue the rattling of sabers and gnashing of teeth — until a deal is done that pleases (and displeases) both parties.—
Katie Kilkenny,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
John DeWitt, the four-star general who oversaw the internment program, in particular, seems to be a forerunner to some of America's worst errors, paranoia, sins.—
Philip Elliott,
Time,
1 Dec. 2025
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God’s likeness, which is our true, spiritual identity, never sins and is never punished.—
Tony Lobl,
Christian Science Monitor,
19 Feb. 2025
Verb
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The film transgresses time to show how greed, faith, desire and the hunger for meaning repeat themselves.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
19 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offends. Accessed 12 May. 2026.
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