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- pronunciation:
fend
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, intransitive verb
- features:
- Word Combinations (verb), Word Explorer, Word Parts
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
offends, offending, offended |
| definition 1: |
to anger, annoy, or provoke resentment in.
The speaker's harsh criticisms offended some members of the audience.Cruelty to animals offends most people.The statement was perceived as an ethnic slur, and it offended many.- synonyms:
- abuse, affront, anger, gall, insult, irk, miff, nettle, pique, rile, torment, vex
- similar words:
- aggravate, embarrass, exasperate, humiliate, incense, injure, nauseate, outrage, rankle, slight, snub, wound
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| definition 2: |
to be disagreeable to (the sense of taste or smell).
The taste of the cheese is quite nice, but I have to admit that the smell offends me.- synonyms:
- disgust, nauseate, repel, revolt, sicken
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| definition 3: |
to violate or sin against (a law, religious precept, or the like).
The group claims that the new law would offend the Constitution.- synonyms:
- breach, transgress, violate
- similar words:
- break, disgust
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| related words: |
affront, antagonize, bruise, cut, disagree, insult, shock |
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| part of speech: |
intransitive verb |
| definition 1: |
to cause anger, displeasure, or resentment.
If I have offended in any way, I deeply apologize.- synonyms:
- pique
- similar words:
- chafe, embarrass
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| definition 2: |
to violate a human or divine law, rule, or standard of conduct.
- synonyms:
- err, sin, transgress, trespass
- similar words:
- backslide, fall, infringe
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| related words: |
cut, fault, sin, wound |
adverb + (v.)offend
deeply, easily, genuinely, greatly, grievously, grossly, inadvertently, mildly, morally, mortally, personally, profoundly, seriously, somehow, vaguely
(v.)offend
+ adverb
frankly, please
(v.)offend
+ noun
amendment,
arrogance,
audience,
clause,
conscience,
conservative,
constitution,
decency,
dignity,
establishment,
flag,
host,
insult,
lesbian,
morality,
notion,
nudity,
offense,
patron,
propriety,
purist,
remark,
sensibility,
sensitivity,
sponsor,
suggestion,
viewer,
voter
[See all][See only the most frequent]
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| derivation: |
offender (n.) |
The word offend
contains the following part:
of-
Latin
prefix
that means towards; against; away
  More about this word part:
The prefix of-
is an assimilated form of ob- used before roots beginning with "f." See ob-.
Example words:
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