First Known Use: 14th century
Dictionary
offend
verb of·fend \ə-ˈfend\
: to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done
: to be unpleasant to (someone or something)
: to do wrong : to be against what people believe is acceptable or proper
Full Definition of OFFEND
intransitive verb
1
a : to transgress the moral or divine law : sin <if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive — Shakespeare> b : to violate a law or rule : do wrong <offend against the law>
2
a : to cause difficulty, discomfort, or injury <took off his shoe and removed the offending pebble> b : to cause dislike, anger, or vexation <thoughtless words that offend needlessly>
transitive verb
1
a : violate, transgress b : to cause pain to : hurt
2
obsolete : to cause to sin or fall
3
: to cause to feel vexation or resentment usually by violation of what is proper or fitting <was offended by their language>
— of·fend·er noun
See offend defined for English-language learners
See offend defined for kids
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Origin of OFFEND
Related to OFFEND
- Antonyms
- comply (with), conform (to), follow, mind, obey, observe
Synonym Discussion of OFFEND
offend, outrage, affront, insult 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>. outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings <outraged by their accusations>. affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy <deeply affronted by his callousness>. insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame <insulted every guest at the party>.
Rhymes with OFFEND
addend, amend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end
OFFENDER Defined for Kids
offend
verb of·fend \ə-ˈfend\
of·fend·edof·fend·ing
Definition of OFFEND for Kids
1
: to hurt the feelings of or insult <She uses language that offends people.>
2
: to do wrong <Is the released prisoner likely to offend again?>
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