variants or offence
1
2
3
4

Synonym Chooser

How does the noun offense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of offense are crime, scandal, sin, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

In what contexts can crime take the place of offense?

In some situations, the words crime and offense are roughly equivalent. However, crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When can scandal be used instead of offense?

The words scandal and offense can be used in similar contexts, but scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is it sensible to use sin instead of offense?

The synonyms sin and offense are sometimes interchangeable, but sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

Where would vice be a reasonable alternative to offense?

The meanings of vice and offense largely overlap; however, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

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 offense The colors included yellow, orange and red — with yellow being less severe infractions and red meaning more severe offenses, said state Rep. Anna Eskamani, D- Orlando. Ana Ceballos, The Orlando Sentinel, 13 July 2025 His offense also can’t come at the cost of his defense. Abbey Mastracco, New York Daily News, 13 July 2025 If there was any day to generate offense, the Royals needed it Saturday at Kauffman Stadium. Kansas City Star, 13 July 2025 The league isn’t getting smaller and the only reason our offense always struggles is because of pace and rebounding. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 13 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • Book runs a family bookstore but also happens to possess a brilliant mind that helps the police solve crimes.
    Jenelle Riley, Variety, 15 July 2025
  • On his first day back in office, Mr. Trump pardoned roughly 1,500 defendants who were convicted of crimes related to the attack.
    Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 July 2025
Noun
  • Israel's military offensive has killed more than 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many militants are among the dead.
    WAFAA SHURAFA, Arkansas Online, 20 July 2025
  • An Israeli military offensive has killed over 58,000 Palestinians, according to the Gaza Health Ministry, displaced nearly all of Gaza’s 2 million people and caused widespread destruction.
    Wafaa Shurafa, Chicago Tribune, 19 July 2025
Noun
  • After a two-year spike during the pandemic and national outrage over police accountability, Chicago began to see a decline in homicides in 2022.
    Kori Rumore, Chicago Tribune, 14 July 2025
  • Trump's demand for nearly 10 times that -- along with the threats that the U.S. might pull its troops from the country -- has previously drawn widespread outrage in the country, spurring calls by some for the development of South Korea's own nuclear arsenal.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 July 2025
Noun
  • This creates an environment of disruption, resentment, siloes and even quiet rebellion against transformation efforts.
    Kamales Lardi, Forbes.com, 18 July 2025
  • He was also traumatized by the death of his mother, and resentment about security issues stems directly from this.
    Stephanie Nolasco , Ashley Papa, FOXNews.com, 16 July 2025
Noun
  • Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.
    Jacky Wong, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
  • Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.
    Reuters, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
  • And the gratuitous insults—to NATO allies, the European Union, the BRICs, the United Nations, or the World Health Organization—continue to flow from the president.
    MARGARET MACMILLAN, Foreign Affairs, 21 July 2025
  • The Steals and Deals segment on the WFTV newscasts are annoying and an insult to the viewers!
    Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 20 July 2025
Noun
  • Pressure to release more documents has built both from within Trump's base and from Democrats seizing on their anger.
    Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes.com, 21 July 2025
  • Several hundred people turned out at the state Capitol with creative signs and chanting to express their anger at Trump and his policies.
    Stephanie Murray, AZCentral.com, 17 July 2025
Noun
  • The restaurant was a favorite hangout of the Gilbert Goons and the site of seven parking lot attacks, according to beating videos, interviews and police records.
    Perry Vandell, AZCentral.com, 24 July 2025
  • And given that the English top flight jumped above the Bundesliga for the number of direct attacks per game last season, players who can be decisive at speed will continue to command premium prices.
    Thom Harris, New York Times, 23 July 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on offense

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!