variants
or offences
1
as in crimes
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 assaults
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 insults
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 angers
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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offenses
And, increasingly, many are mounting charm offenses on X in the hopes of becoming MAGA darlings.
—
Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Violence is widespread in the city proper, with large encampments where meth and other drugs are readily available and criminals reportedly exploit the city’s free bus system to carry out offenses.
—Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
When contacted by the Washington Examiner about the lack of prosecutorial action, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office explained that most misdemeanors and other less serious offenses are referred to the Minneapolis city attorney, whereas the county prosecutor charges felonies.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 Feb. 2026
Operating an unregistered rental can lead to fines starting at $125 and increasing to $1,000 for repeat offenses.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
In prison, among other things, Milano taught himself to counsel other inmates, in particular young men whose offenses were associated with drug and alcohol use.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
The new charges relate to a separate report of non-recent offences in 2020 and follow a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Of the more than 70,000 people currently in immigration detention facilities, only about 25% of them have any kind of criminal conviction, which can include traffic violations and other minor offenses, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which tracks detention data.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
This is our standard disposition for first-time prostitution offenses.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Andrew Zucker, HollywoodReporter, 13 Feb. 2026
Violence is widespread in the city proper, with large encampments where meth and other drugs are readily available and criminals reportedly exploit the city’s free bus system to carry out offenses.
—Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil, FOXNews.com, 13 Feb. 2026
When contacted by the Washington Examiner about the lack of prosecutorial action, the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office explained that most misdemeanors and other less serious offenses are referred to the Minneapolis city attorney, whereas the county prosecutor charges felonies.
—Mia Cathell, The Washington Examiner, 13 Feb. 2026
Operating an unregistered rental can lead to fines starting at $125 and increasing to $1,000 for repeat offenses.
—Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 13 Feb. 2026
In prison, among other things, Milano taught himself to counsel other inmates, in particular young men whose offenses were associated with drug and alcohol use.
—Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 12 Feb. 2026
The new charges relate to a separate report of non-recent offences in 2020 and follow a new investigation by the Metropolitan Police.
—James McNicholas, New York Times, 12 Feb. 2026
Of the more than 70,000 people currently in immigration detention facilities, only about 25% of them have any kind of criminal conviction, which can include traffic violations and other minor offenses, according to the Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse, which tracks detention data.
—Trevor Hughes, USA Today, 7 Feb. 2026
This is our standard disposition for first-time prostitution offenses.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offenses
Noun
-
Superior Court Judge Paul Ridgeway had the option to sentence him to life in prison with the chance for parole after at least 25 years, but Thompson did not face the death penalty given his age at the time of the crimes.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
Despite the prevalence of narcotics crimes, Jacobson alleges that Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos does not want to work with other agencies, including Border Patrol and ICE.—
Michael Ruiz , Adriana James-Rodil,
FOXNews.com,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Mejia has four prior arrests, including assaults in 2019 and 2022, and a DUI in 2020, cops said.—
Colin Mixson,
New York Daily News,
13 Feb. 2026
-
Police are investigating a string of violent late-night robberies in the Bella Vista and Hawthorne neighborhoods of South Philadelphia, after five assaults over the past month left some victims injured.—
Ross DiMattei,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Employees at an El Dorado Hills fast food restaurant went on a one-day strike, after a manager reportedly flung insults and acted unprofessionally to Latino workers.—
Camila Pedrosa,
Sacbee.com,
17 Feb. 2026
-
When Lucy confesses to sleeping with Evan, Pippa’s insults for Lucy could rival even some of Stephen’s greatest hits.—
Kathleen Walsh,
Vulture,
17 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to that and other violations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The union filed a grievance on Tuesday, alleging violations to a collective bargaining agreement.—
Scott Travis,
Sun Sentinel,
13 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Militants have carried out shooting attacks on troops, and Israel says its strikes are in response to that and other violations.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
14 Feb. 2026
-
The administration’s attacks on Lemon and independent journalists have boosted their online attention and revenue.—
Drew Harwell,
Washington Post,
14 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
As has always been the case in my life, my main way of responding to political outrages is through writing and reading.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Rideout’s trial, for example, teemed with outrages.—
S. C. Cornell,
New Yorker,
5 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Holly Sleppy, a 52-year-old who works at Virtua, shared her frustrations, which many menopausal women are feeling because of a shortage of the estrogen patches used to treat symptoms like hot flashes, irritability and brain fog.—
Stephanie Stahl,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
Elfman, sharing the board’s frustrations, said Foxboro’s police and fire chiefs have been preparing for the World Cup for over three years.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
18 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Its roots are in publicly paying penance for serious sins or crimes in the eyes of the church, like adultery or apostasy, which means renouncing the church and its beliefs.—
Lianna Norman,
Florida Times-Union,
16 Feb. 2026
-
The attempt to expunge Andrew and his sins from the Royal Family is interesting insofar as it is doomed.—
Sam Knight,
New Yorker,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offenses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offenses. Accessed 20 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
