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   Of·fend

   /əˈfend/

   

   verb

   • 1. cause to feel upset, annoyed, or resentful: "viewers said they had been offended by bad language" Similar hurt someone's feelingsgive offense toaffrontupsetdispleasedistresshurtwoundpaininjurebe an affront toget/put someone's back updisgruntleput outannoyangerexasperateirritatevexpiquegallirkprovokerankle withnettleneedlepeevetread on someone's toesruffleruffle someone's feathersrub up the wrong waymake someone's hackles riseinsulthumiliateembarrassmortifyscandalizeshockoutragespiteinformal:rilemiffrattleaggravateget under someone's skinhack offget someone's goatget tobugnarkget on someone's wickput someone's nose out of jointget up someone's nosetick offvulgar slang:piss off
   • ▪ be displeasing to: "he didn't smoke and the smell of ash offended him" Similar displeasebe displeasing tobe distasteful tobe disagreeable tobe offensive tocause offense toupsetput offdisgustrepelrevoltbe repugnant torepulseturn someone's stomachsickennauseatemake sickmake someone's gorge riseinformal:turn offgross outOpposite pleasedelight
   • 2. commit an illegal act: "a small hard core of young criminals who offend again and again" Similar break the lawcommit a crimedo wrongsingo astrayfall from graceerrtransgressarchaic:trespass
   • ▪ break a commonly accepted rule or principle: "those activities which offend against public order and decency"

   Word Origin late Middle English: from Old French offendre, from Latin offendere ‘strike against’.

   Scrabble Points: 13

   • O

     1

   • F

     4

   • F

     4

   • E

     1

   • N

     1

   • D

     2

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