variants
or offence
1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code
wartime offenses that are crimes against all of humanity
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offensive
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence
combat casualties grew enormously as the weapons of offense became far more technologically advanced than defensive armor
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in insult
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings
a diplomat never deliberately gives offense
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in anger
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity
my mother was prone to take offense even at the most innocent remark
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of offense
The Bills only had 167 yards of offense for the game prior to that drive.
—
Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Three of the 40 men interviewed by the New York Times faced criminal accusations beyond immigration and traffic offenses.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Sunday marked the second straight game the Bengals allowed 500 or more yards of total offense.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
In fact, calling 911 without a real emergency is against the law in Kentucky and could result in a range of consequences from fines to jail time to a felony offense.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offense
Miami Herald, 9 Nov. 2025
Three of the 40 men interviewed by the New York Times faced criminal accusations beyond immigration and traffic offenses.
—Tamia Fowlkes, jsonline.com, 9 Nov. 2025
Sunday marked the second straight game the Bengals allowed 500 or more yards of total offense.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2025
In fact, calling 911 without a real emergency is against the law in Kentucky and could result in a range of consequences from fines to jail time to a felony offense.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
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The crimes with which she has been charged are trumped up and her arrest is a cynical ploy by the junta headed by Senior General Min Aung Hlaing to cling onto power.—
Kim Aris,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
Rafael is a crime and breaking news reporter at the Arkansas Democrat Gazette.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The campaign began with an air offensive in January 1991, followed by a swift ground assault that expelled Iraqi forces within 100 hours.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Determined to stop the anti-imperial policies of Egyptian President Gamal Abdel Nasser, British and French representatives met with Israeli officials in October 1956 to forge a secret agreement for a coordinated offensive against Egypt.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
Weston said stripping Andrew of the medal would be an insult to those who have served in the British armed forces.—
Meredith Kile,
PEOPLE,
5 Nov. 2025
-
In popular discourse, the word has taken on a life of its own, as an insult deployed without clear reference to any theory of psychology.—
David Merritt Johns,
The Atlantic,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
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The thumping Republicans took in this week's elections reflected longer-running anger among constituencies that already leaned Democratic, but the GOP needs to worry that the government shutdown will cause that frustration to spread.—
Deputy News Editor,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
And that is why my first true voice—the one that could hold complexity, contradiction, grief, even anger—came in English.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
6 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The most common template for an insider trading violation is as follows.—
Samidh Guha,
ABC News,
9 Nov. 2025
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In Chicago, the indelible image of a pastor in a clerical collar shot in the head with a pepper ball by agents standing on the rooftop of an ICE building is a direct violation of CBP’s use of force policy.—
Andy Rose 19 hr ago,
CNN Money,
9 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
All three nuclear powers have established their own nuclear triad, consisting of ICBMs, submarines armed with ballistic missiles and nuclear-capable aircraft, which ensure their forces can survive a first strike and retaliate, thereby deterring a nuclear attack.—
Ryan Chan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
-
But in the final weeks of the race, both campaigns traded personal attacks.—
Joe Hernandez,
NPR,
5 Nov. 2025
Noun
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Cleveland says narcissists often disguise sarcasm as humor, slipping in cutting remarks about your intelligence, competence, or appearance but framing them as playful.—
Angela Haupt,
Time,
30 Oct. 2025
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While the track leans toward sarcasm, the soon-to-be-anthem perfectly captures a generational sentiment.—
Jessica Roiz,
Billboard,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Lloyd evaded a diving Mahomes, Kareem Hunt and a streaking Tyquan Thornton for a huff-and-puff 99-yard interception return for a touchdown.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
7 Oct. 2025
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Kemp looked at the ceiling and blew a huff of air when Schwartz announced the sentence.—
Dave Smith,
Fortune,
24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 10 Nov. 2025.
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