OFFEND Synonyms: 121 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'offend' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of offend are affront , insult , and outrage . While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting. // hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Q: Where would 'affront' be a reasonable alternative to 'offend'?

The synonyms affront and offend are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy. // deeply affronted by his callousness

Q: When would 'insult' be a good substitute for 'offend'?

In some situations, the words insult and offend are roughly equivalent. However, insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame. // insulted every guest at the party

Q: When might 'outrage' be a better fit than 'offend'?

The words outrage and offend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings. // outraged by their accusations

offend

verb

ə-ˈfend

Definition of offend next

as in to trespass

to commit an offense since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to insult

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

as in to violate

to fail to keep offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word offend distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of offend are affront, insult, and outrage. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Where would affront be a reasonable alternative to offend?

The synonyms affront and offend are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

When would insult be a good substitute for offend?

In some situations, the words insult and offend are roughly equivalent. However, insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When might outrage be a better fit than offend?

The words outrage and offend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

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 offend Make a piece that is guaranteed to offend or piss people off. —

Jeremy Lybarger, Artforum, 1 Feb. 2025 Why does that extremely violent scene offend me, and this other extremely violent scene in another film, by another director, justify its particulars? —

Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 29 Jan. 2025 Once benefits have been established, though, they cannot be denied or taken away from specific individuals in a manner that offends those individuals' rights to due process or equal protection, such as if specific individuals were denied benefits because of their race, religion, or national origin. —

Shane Croucher, Newsweek, 29 Jan. 2025 With every call, by the time the police arrive, the offending behavior has settled down — not that any of it could possibly justify what ultimately happened, when Lorincz introduced a firearm into the equation. —

Peter Debruge, Variety, 25 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for offend

Recent Examples of Synonyms for offend

Verb

Even before the treaty’s ratification, white settlers trespassed on the Nez Perce reservation in search of gold, according to the National Park Service.

— Kevin Fixler, Idaho Statesman, 5 Feb. 2025
For example, Henry can trespass on private property and sneak in a nap in a stranger’s bed or eat from their pot of stew at the risk of getting caught by the homeowner and driven out of town.

— George Yang, Rolling Stone, 3 Feb. 2025