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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of offends
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
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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The cold air is then expected to stay in place through the beginning of February, ensuring that whatever snow falls this weekend will stay on the ground for a while.—
Matthew Villafane,
CBS News,
25 Jan. 2026
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Only one other player has been ever elected by the writers with 1,500 or fewer hits — Roy Campanella (1,422) in 1969 — and that total falls far short of the average career hit mark for all Hall of Fame batters, which is 2,330.—
Mac Cerullo,
Boston Herald,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
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As the President insults allies, woos dictators, and spurns long-standing commitments, Rubio has to convince his counterparts that America will not entirely abandon its friends.—
Dexter Filkins,
New Yorker,
12 Jan. 2026
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The paddling comes as revenge for multiple times Marty insults the businessman throughout the movie.—
Tommy McArdle,
PEOPLE,
26 Dec. 2025
Verb
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The Native American Guardian’s Association (NAGA) argued that the New York Board of Regents’ 2023 rule banning the use of Native names or imagery by public schools is discriminatory and violates the 14th Amendment’s guarantee of equal treatment under the law.—
Bonny Chu,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
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Misguided congressional action driven by personal animus undermines important national security interests of the United States, empowers our enemies and violates our Constitution.—
Sandeep Gopalan,
Baltimore Sun,
19 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The thing that outrages, the thing that shocks, the thing that elicits the greatest response, and the greatest response of all of those emotional reactions is outrage, is fear, is shock, is anger.—
David Frum,
The Atlantic,
31 Dec. 2025
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Content that outrages, polarizes or triggers anxiety keeps us watching.—
Avital Pardo,
Forbes.com,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Where is that strange, clueless child who wanders from cause to cause, Greta Thunberg?—
Bobby Zirkin,
Baltimore Sun,
8 Jan. 2026
-
Matt, the dad, wanders off to the kitchen.—
Seth Abramovitch,
HollywoodReporter,
22 Dec. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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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
Verb
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Where he was born never strays from Bobby’s mind.—
Ben Bolch,
Los Angeles Times,
19 Jan. 2026
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Despite the sidebars into prickly themes, the book never strays far from what its subtitle promises.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
15 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offends.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offends. Accessed 25 Jan. 2026.
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