Definitions for offend
əˈfɛndof·fend

Princeton's WordNet(3.33 / 3 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. To Offendverb

   Etymology: offendo, Latin.

   1. To make angry.

   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.

   2. To assail; to attack.

   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.

   3. To trangress; to violate.4. To injure.

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

2. To Offendverb

   1. To be criminal; to trangress the law.

   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.

   2. To cause anger.

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

   3. To commit transgression.

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

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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.]

Matched Categories

1. • Anger

How to pronounce offend?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say offend in sign language?

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. Sergio Goyri:

   It was never my intent to offend anyone. I apologize to Yalitza, who deserves (this Oscar nomination) and much more, for me, it is an honor to see a Mexican be nominated for an Oscar.

2. Mark Twain, "Advice to Youth" Speech, 1882:

   If a person offend you and you are in doubt as to whether it was intentional or not, do not resort to extreme measures. Simply watch your chance and hit him with a brick.

3. Beau Phillips:

   General Allen’s counsel is deeply concerned about the serious and damaging ethical breach that occurred with the public release of a search warrant affidavit containing confidential grand jury information, not only did the breach offend longstanding law and Department of Justice policy on the confidentiality of ongoing investigations, but the narrative presented in the affidavit and now made public also is factually inaccurate, incomplete, and misleading.

4. William Congreve:

   Men are apt to offend ('tis true) where they find most goodness to forgive.

5. Niccolo Machiavelli:

   There is no other way of guarding oneself against flattery than by letting men understand that they will not offend you by speaking the truth but when everyone can tell you the truth, you lose their respect.

Popularity rank by frequency of use