offend[verb]Synonyms: insult, affront, annoy, displease, hurt (someone's) feelings, outrage, slight, snub, upset, wound
Contrasted words: delight, gratify, please, tickle, captivate, charm, enchant, flatter
Related Idioms: hurt one's feelings, ruffle one's feathers, step (
or tread) on one's toes
Related Words: aggrieve,
hurt,
sting,
wound,
exasperate,
gall,
irritate,
nettle,
excite,
provoke,
appall,
horrify,
scandalize,
shock,
disoblige,
displease,
distress,
disturb,
miff,
pique,
upset [TahlilGaran] English Synonym Dictionary ▲
of‧fend /əˈfend/
verb [
Word Family: noun:
OFFENSE/OFFENSE,
offender,
offensive,
offensiveness;
adjective:
offensive ≠
inoffensive,
offended,
offending;
verb:
offend;
adverb:
offensively]
[
Date: 1300-1400;
Language: Old French;
Origin: offendre, from Latin offendere 'to strike against, offend']
1. [intransitive and transitive] to make someone angry or upset by doing or saying something that they think is rude, unkind etc:
His remarks deeply offended many Scottish people.be offended by/at something Liddy was offended by such a personal question. The careful language is designed not to offend.2. [transitive] to seem bad or unacceptable to someone:
A solution must be found that doesn’t offend too many people. Some of these new buildings really offend the eye (=look very ugly).3. [intransitive] formal to commit a crime or crimes:
Many of the young men here are likely to offend again.4. [intransitive and transitive] formal to be against people’s feelings of what is morally acceptable
offend against Broadcasters have a responsibility not to offend against good taste and decency. [TahlilGaran] Dictionary of Contemporary English ▲