offend

UK: /əˈfɛnd/ US: /əˈfɛnd/ ,(ə fend′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

of•fend /əˈfɛnd/   v. 

1. to irritate, annoy, or anger;
   cause resentful displeasure in;
   insult:
   [~ + object] His impolite remarks offended the audience.
2. to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) in an unpleasant or disagreeable way:
   [~ + object] That odor offends my nose.
3. to violate (a criminal, religious, or moral law): [~ + object]
   The movie offends the morals of the community.
   [~ + against + object]
   The movie offends against our principles.
4. to cause displeasure or resentment:
   [no object] words that offend.

of•fend•er, n. [countable] See -fend-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

of•fend  (ə fend′), v.t. 

1. to irritate, annoy, or anger;
   cause resentful displeasure in:
   Even the hint of prejudice offends me.
2. to affect (the sense, taste, etc.) disagreeably.
3. to violate or transgress (a criminal, religious, or moral law).
4. to hurt or cause pain to.
5. Bible (in Biblical use) to cause to fall into sinful ways.

v.i. 

6. to cause resentful displeasure;
   irritate, annoy, or anger:
   a remark so thoughtless it can only offend.
7. to err in conduct;
   commit a sin, crime, or fault.

• Latin offendere to strike against, displease, equivalent. to of- of- + -fendere to strike
• Middle French offendre
• Middle English offenden 1275–1325

of•fend′a•ble, adj. 
of•fend′ed•ly, adv. 
of•fend′ed•ness, n. 
of•fend′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. provoke, chafe, nettle, affront, insult.
• 7. transgress.

Antonyms

• 1. please.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

offend / əˈfɛnd/ verb

1. to hurt the feelings, sense of dignity, etc, of (a person)
2. (transitive) to be disagreeable to; disgust: the smell offended him
3. (intr except in archaic uses) to break (a law or laws in general)

Etymology: 14th Century: via Old French offendre to strike against, from Latin offendere, from ob- against + fendere to strike

ofˈfender noun

ofˈfending adjective