- Main Entry:
- of·fend
- Pronunciation:
-
\ə-ˈfend\
- Function:
- verb
- Etymology:
- Middle English, from Anglo-French offendre, from Latin offendere to strike against, offend, from ob- against + -fendere to strike — more at ob-, defend
- Date:
- 14th century
intransitive verb1 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 verb1 a: violate, transgress b: to cause pain to : hurt2obsolete : to cause to sin or fall3: 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
synonyms 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>.
