Word
offend
Phoneticsof·fend, stress on the second syllable
US/əˈfɛnd/
UK/əfˈɛnd/
Definitions
01to hurt feelings
B1 · Intermediate
v. to make someone feel upset, angry, or insulted by what you say or do.
v. to cause someone to feel resentment, indignation, or hurt through a perceived lack of respect or a violation of social norms.
“I'm sorry if I offended you with my joke; I didn't mean to be rude.”
“The diplomat was careful not to offend his hosts by inadvertently ignoring local customs during the formal dinner.”
Usage
Often used in the passive voice ('to be offended').
Pitfall
I am offended from his comments.
I am offended by his comments.
Use the preposition 'by' or 'at' when describing the cause of the offense.
Antonyms
02to break a law
B2 · Upper Intermediate Law Formal
v. to commit a crime or break a rule.
v. to commit an illegal act or violate a formal regulation.
“He was arrested for offending against the new traffic laws.”
“The company was fined heavily after it was found to have offended against environmental protection regulations for several years.”
Usage
Frequently used with the preposition 'against'.
03to be unpleasant
C1 · Advanced Formal
v. to be unpleasant to your senses, like a bad smell or a very bright light.
v. to cause physical or aesthetic discomfort or displeasure to the senses.
“The bright neon sign offended her eyes in the middle of the dark street.”
“The harsh, industrial odor of the factory offended the residents of the nearby luxury housing development.”
Synonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “offend” in context.
Verb
01. likely to offend
“The director removed the scene because it was likely to offend younger viewers.”
verb + adj + infinitive
02. mean to offend
“Please don't be angry; I really didn't mean to offend you with my suggestion.”
verb + infinitive
03. offend against the law
“The company was fined heavily because its waste disposal methods offended against the law.”
verb + prep + noun
Adverb
04. deeply offend
“His insensitive comments about the local traditions deeply offended the hosts.”
adv + verb
05. easily offend
“You have to be careful with your jokes because he is easily offended.”
adv + verb
06. unintentionally offend
“She was worried that she might unintentionally offend someone by wearing the wrong clothes.”
adv + verb
Real-World Examples
“It is not the first time O'Leary has offended people while talking about his business .” “The one topic Thomas will not talk about, because it would offend his old-school Southern manners, is himself.” Etymology
From Middle French offendre, from Latin offendō (“strike, blunder, commit an offense”), from ob- (“against”) + *fendō (“strike”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
ADVERB
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper IntermediateOxford
- Updated
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