take offense
idiom
: to become angry or upset by something that another person has said or done : to be offended by something
He took offense when I suggested exchanging the gift.
—often + atShe takes offense at any criticism.
Examples of take offense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
People are far more serious now, not just football, someone is always there on social media to take offense to every little thing.
—
Nick Miller, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
In the show, Falwell and other conservative preachers take offense to the Bakkers' more secular message and set out to dismantle their ministry while advancing their version of traditional values up to the White House.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Still, a woman may take offense at even the quickest peek.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Atkinson seemed to take offense to Gilgeous-Alexander and there was a brief exchange between the two.
—Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take offense 
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Nick Miller, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
In the show, Falwell and other conservative preachers take offense to the Bakkers' more secular message and set out to dismantle their ministry while advancing their version of traditional values up to the White House.
—Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
Still, a woman may take offense at even the quickest peek.
—Kwame Anthony Appiah, New York Times, 24 Jan. 2025
Atkinson seemed to take offense to Gilgeous-Alexander and there was a brief exchange between the two.
—Joe Vardon, The Athletic, 16 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for take offense
Dictionary Entries Near take offense
Cite this Entry
“Take offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20offense. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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