as in insulting
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Dissimilar Words
1
as in trespassing
to commit an offense
since this is the first time you've offended, we'll let you off lightly
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in outraging
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
the visitor unintentionally offended his hosts terribly by failing to compliment them on the elaborately prepared meal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in violating
to fail to keep
offended conventional standards of uniformity by not adhering to the company dress code
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of offending
Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The Washington Post, which broke the news, ran the offending word in both its headline and story.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
But Setrakian claimed California and Texas law protect public officials from defamation claims even in fundraising so long as the offending comments can be reasonably connected to his official duties.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Something seems to be afoot, since the offending robots were operated by two different companies.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
The Defringe option in Affinity improves matters, but the software doesn't have an eyedropper to hone in on the offending shade of magenta.
—Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
But instead of simply coating the offending area with air freshener or lighting a candle to mask the odor, learn how to address unwanted smells at the source.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The BAFTAs air on a two-hour delay, more than enough time to remove the offending outburst from the broadcast.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Emma wriggled obediently out of the offending articles.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Public supporters of the fines agreed that civil procedures against offending landlords were more expensive and time consuming than introducing higher fees.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Use your quick wit when asking questions to avoid accidentally offending anyone.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
The person who is the daughter’s supervisor is probably worried about offending the parent who also is her coworker.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The consequences of offending Miss Manners at this distance are, unfortunately, slight.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
The judge opined that Brigandi’s client, Couvrette, likely drafted the offending documents.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The cynic in me might argue that having only a rear plate is a result of lobbying by various entities, such as insurance companies, who would be happy to not be able to pay out due to the inability to identify the offending vehicle.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Adjective
By the next day, Google had pulled down the offending videos.
—Todd Spangler, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The Washington Post, which broke the news, ran the offending word in both its headline and story.
—Harmeet Kaur, CNN Money, 8 Apr. 2026
But Setrakian claimed California and Texas law protect public officials from defamation claims even in fundraising so long as the offending comments can be reasonably connected to his official duties.
—Will Swaim, Oc Register, 6 Apr. 2026
Something seems to be afoot, since the offending robots were operated by two different companies.
—Frank Landymore, Futurism, 26 Mar. 2026
The Defringe option in Affinity improves matters, but the software doesn't have an eyedropper to hone in on the offending shade of magenta.
—Michael Muchmore, PC Magazine, 13 Mar. 2026
But instead of simply coating the offending area with air freshener or lighting a candle to mask the odor, learn how to address unwanted smells at the source.
—Patricia Shannon, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Mar. 2026
The BAFTAs air on a two-hour delay, more than enough time to remove the offending outburst from the broadcast.
—Nate Jones, Vulture, 27 Feb. 2026
Emma wriggled obediently out of the offending articles.
—Literary Hub, 26 Feb. 2026
Verb
Kimmel refused to apologize for offending the first lady, noting the joke drew little initial reaction until the unrelated shooting.
—Meg James, Los Angeles Times, 28 Apr. 2026
The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction.
—Jeramie Bizzle, CBS News, 25 Apr. 2026
Public supporters of the fines agreed that civil procedures against offending landlords were more expensive and time consuming than introducing higher fees.
—Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 16 Apr. 2026
Use your quick wit when asking questions to avoid accidentally offending anyone.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 10 Apr. 2026
The person who is the daughter’s supervisor is probably worried about offending the parent who also is her coworker.
—R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 6 Apr. 2026
The consequences of offending Miss Manners at this distance are, unfortunately, slight.
—Judith Martin, Mercury News, 6 Apr. 2026
The judge opined that Brigandi’s client, Couvrette, likely drafted the offending documents.
—Alex Riggins, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026
The cynic in me might argue that having only a rear plate is a result of lobbying by various entities, such as insurance companies, who would be happy to not be able to pay out due to the inability to identify the offending vehicle.
—Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offending
Adjective
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For filmmakers who view their individual work as the center of gravity, this can sit somewhere between confusing and insulting.—
Dana Harris-Bridson,
IndieWire,
15 Apr. 2026
-
Survivors rejected the offer, calling it insulting.—
JT Moodee Lockman,
CBS News,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
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While monitoring predators at Python Cave — which is home to Egyptian fruit bats confirmed to be infected with the virus — in Uganda's Queen Elizabeth National Park, scientists recorded hundreds of humans trespassing to visit the area.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
PEOPLE,
22 Apr. 2026
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Much about the project, however, remains tied up in legal challenges, including the future of a federal consent decree supposed to outline any pipeline restart and an assertion from California that the company is now trespassing through Gaviota State Park.—
Grace Toohey,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Apr. 2026
Verb
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On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.—
Justin Fishel,
ABC News,
10 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In their first public statement made outside the courtroom since Kohberger's arrest in December 2022, Kohberger's lawyers have accused a former defense expert, criminologist Brent Turvey, of violating a confidentiality agreement by speaking about the case.—
Michael Ruiz,
FOXNews.com,
29 Apr. 2026
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Citizens for Positive Growth & Preservation since 2015 has filed three lawsuits against the city accusing Sacramento officials of violating CEQA.—
Stephen Hobbs,
Sacbee.com,
29 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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Bell is a big-bodied offensive weapon who doesn’t just look like a running back.—
Alec Lewis,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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In terms of specific positions, Maugioa is the sixth Hurricanes offensive lineman to be selected in the first round, while Bain and Mesidor are the eighth and ninth UM defensive ends/edge rushers taken in the first round.—
Jordan McPherson,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bishop Moore junior Lucas Magro went 2-1 in the individual singles bracket and took the top seed, William Freshwater of Barron Collier, to a tiebreaker before falling 1-6, 6-1, (10-3).—
Buddy Collings,
The Orlando Sentinel,
29 Apr. 2026
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But the Pistons were sloppy with the ball and careless overall in a 94-88 loss to the Orlando Magic on Monday night, falling behind 3-1 in their first-round Eastern Conference series.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
28 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Amanda Lee Myers is a senior crime reporter who covers the death penalty, cold case investigations and breaking news for USA TODAY.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2026
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The passengers include the requisite obnoxious jerk, Dan (Angus Sampson), already throwing his weight around and breaking no-smoking rules at LAX.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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In this best-selling memoir, Foo investigates the repercussions of complex PTSD (C-PTSD) caused by her abusive parents and her subsequent estrangement from each of them in turn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Apr. 2026
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Someone that was that abusive to children in plain sight doesn’t deserve to be celebrated as a human being.—
Marlow Stern,
Variety,
28 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Offending.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offending. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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