What does offend mean?

Definitions for offend
əˈfɛndof·fend

This dictionary definitions page includes all the possible meanings, example usage and translations of the word offend.

Princeton's WordNet

  1. pique, offendverb

    cause to feel resentment or indignation

    "Her tactless remark offended me"

  2. transgress, offend, infract, violate, go against, breach, breakverb

    act in disregard of laws, rules, contracts, or promises

    "offend all laws of humanity"; "violate the basic laws or human civilization"; "break a law"; "break a promise"

  3. shock, offend, scandalize, scandalise, appal, appall, outrageverb

    strike with disgust or revulsion

    "The scandalous behavior of this married woman shocked her friends"

  4. hurt, wound, injure, bruise, offend, spiteverb

    hurt the feelings of

    "She hurt me when she did not include me among her guests"; "This remark really bruised my ego"

Wiktionary

  1. offendverb

    To hurt the feelings of; to displease; to make angry; to insult.

    Your accusations offend me deeply.

  2. offendverb

    To feel or become offended, take insult.

    Don't worry. I don't offend easily.

  3. offendverb

    To physically harm, pain

    Strong light offends the eye.

  4. offendverb

    To annoy, cause discomfort or resent.

    Physically enjoyable frivolity can still offend the conscience

  5. offendverb

    To sin, transgress divine law or moral rules

  6. offendverb

    To transgress or violate a law or moral requirement.

  7. offendverb

    To cause to stumble; to cause to sin or to fall.

  8. Etymology: From offendo, from ob + *.

Samuel Johnson's Dictionary

  1. To Offendverb

    Etymology: offendo, Latin.

    If much you note him
    You shall offend him, and extend his passion,
    Feed and regard him not. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

    Three sorts of men my soul hateth, and I am greatly offended at their life. Ecclus xxv. 2.

    The emperor himself came running to the place in his armour, severely reproving them of cowardice who had forsaken the place, and grievously offended with them who had kept such negligent watch. Richard Knolles, Hist. of the Turks.

    He was fain to defend himself, and withal so to offend him, that by an unlucky blow the poor Philoxenus fell dead at his feet. Philip Sidney.

    Cheaply you sin, and punish crimes with ease,
    Not as th’ offended, but th’ offenders please. Dryden.

  2. To Offendverb

    This man that of earthly matter maketh graven images, knoweth himself to offend above all others. Wisd. xiv. 13.

    Whosoever shall keep the whole law, and yet offend in one point, he is guilty of all. James ii. 10.

    I shall offend, either to detain or give it. William Shakespeare, Lear.

    Our language is extremely imperfect, and in many instances it offends against every part of grammar. Jonathan Swift.

ChatGPT

  1. offend

    To offend means to cause displeasure, anger, resentment or hurt feelings in someone by an action, word, or attitude considered disrespectful, insensitive, or inappropriate. It can also refer to the act of committing an illegal action or breaking a social or moral rule.

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary

  1. Offend

    of-fend′, v.t. to displease or make angry: to do harm to: to affront: (B.) to cause to sin.—v.i. to sin: to cause anger: (B.) to be made to sin.—n. Offence′, any cause of anger or displeasure: an injury: a crime: a sin: affront: assault.—adjs. Offence′ful (Shak.) giving offence or displeasure: injurious; Offence′less (Milt.), unoffending: innocent.—ns. Offend′er, one who offends or injures: a trespasser: a criminal:—fem. Offend′ress; Offense′, &c., same as Offence, &c.—adj. Offens′ive, causing offence, displeasure, or injury: used in attack: making the first attack.—n. the act of the attacking party: the posture of one who attacks.—adv. Offens′ively.—n. Offens′iveness.—Offensive and defensive, requiring all parties to make war together, or to defend each other if attacked.—Give offence, to cause displeasure; Take offence, to feel displeasure, be offended. [Fr.,—L. ob, against, fendĕre, to strike.]

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Numerology

  1. Chaldean Numerology

    The numerical value of offend in Chaldean Numerology is: 1

  2. Pythagorean Numerology

    The numerical value of offend in Pythagorean Numerology is: 5

Examples of offend in a Sentence

  1. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi:

    He said that offending Islam and Muslims has become a tool to mobilize votes. He called the offensive cartoons depicting Muhammad a blatant hostility against this noble religion and its prophet. Egypts President Abdel-Fattah el-Sissi said that offending the prophet undermines high values many Muslims believe in. We, too, have rights ; right of not to hurt our feelings and not to offend our values.

  2. Strange Donuts owner Jason Bockman:

    It was never my attention to offend anyone, i was hurt that I offended people.

  3. Thierry Wizman:

    This strikes me as a political decision, not a rules-based decision, it sounds like the administration is trying not to offend allies here ... those allies that are going to be most important in containing China.

  4. Victoria Spartz:

    I also care deeply about people's lives -- the lives of ordinary Ukrainians and the brave Ukrainian military. I can not let them down even if that means saying unpopular truths that offend the politicians or diverge from the popular narrative of the day, i will never give up or give in, and I will do everything I can to see a united Ukraine and a defeated Vladimir Putin.

  5. Sandra Bullock:

    That's what I mean that it drives you crazy, when I first met him, I would spend as much time as I could filling a silence, just to feel comfortable. And the more I jibber-jabbered on, the quieter he would get. And I thought, I don't understand what's happening ! He's looking at me with eyes of confusion. He's quiet. Did I say something to offend him ? And then a day or two later, he would arrive with a note or a little package, saying,' I thought about what you said.' And he would have his response.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

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Translations for offend

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"offend." Definitions.net. STANDS4 LLC, 2024. Web. 24 Apr. 2024. <https://www.definitions.net/definition/offend>.

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