offended; offending; offends
1
a
: to transgress (see transgress sense transitive 1) the moral or divine law : sin
if it be a sin to covet honor, I am the most offending soul alive—
William Shakespeare
William 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
1
a
: violate, transgress
a contract not offending a statute … might still be in restraint of trade—C. A. Cooke
C. A. Cooke
b
: to cause pain to : hurt
tasteless billboards that offend the eye
2
obsolete
: to cause to sin or fall
3
: to cause (a person or group) to feel hurt, angry, or upset by something said or done
was offended by their language
She carefully worded her comments so as not to offend anyone.
offender
noun
Examples of offend in a Sentence
His comments about minority groups offended many of us.
She had carefully worded her comments so as not to offend anyone.
It offends me that you would make such a remark.
Don't worry. I wasn't offended.
I felt a little offended by their lack of respect.
Some people are offended by the song's lyrics.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend you.
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend.
Recent Examples on the Web
This arbitrary and unprecedented anti-business approach offends the rule of law.
—Alden Abbott, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
And at least in the most archetypal version of the story — which the movie leans into, hard — Seeger was deeply offended by Dylan’s decision to drown out his own lyrics, and violate the festival’s communal, rootsy spirit with raucous noise.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Even though plenty of us were born in the ’70s or survived them, a decade has no constituency, no one to be offended.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
Dear Eric: One of my daughters-in-law has always been easy to offend.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for offend 
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Alden Abbott, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024
And at least in the most archetypal version of the story — which the movie leans into, hard — Seeger was deeply offended by Dylan’s decision to drown out his own lyrics, and violate the festival’s communal, rootsy spirit with raucous noise.
—Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 18 Nov. 2024
Even though plenty of us were born in the ’70s or survived them, a decade has no constituency, no one to be offended.
—Brian Moylan, Vulture, 15 Nov. 2024
Dear Eric: One of my daughters-in-law has always been easy to offend.
—R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for offend
Dictionary Entries Near offend
Cite this Entry
“Offend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/offend. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
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