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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun offense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of offense are crime, scandal, sin, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

In what contexts can crime take the place of offense?

In some situations, the words crime and offense are roughly equivalent. However, crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When can scandal be used instead of offense?

The words scandal and offense can be used in similar contexts, but scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is it sensible to use sin instead of offense?

The synonyms sin and offense are sometimes interchangeable, but sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

Where would vice be a reasonable alternative to offense?

The meanings of vice and offense largely overlap; however, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offense Since the teen didn't have a criminal record, the state Department of Juvenile Services characterized the offenses as lower-level crimes and allowed him to be released, Hamill said. Louis Casiano, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2025 My last offense was more everybody get tagged on which routes. Jon MacHota, New York Times, 30 May 2025 Setter Aaron Wood runs an efficient and well-rounded offense while also being a force at the net in attacking and blocking. Tim Meehan, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2025 But after a scoreless first, Florida’s offense came to life. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • Grimes County Sheriff's Office What To Know Police in Grimes County, Texas, are still searching for Mathis, who was last seen on Wednesday at 8 p.m. Mathis was arrested on January 2 accused of multiple crimes in Victoria and Grimes counties.
    James Bickerton, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025
  • Miami Herald 305-376-3446 Jay Weaver writes about federal crime at the crossroads of South Florida and Latin America.
    Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Zelensky said the setbacks for the Kremlin would help force it to the negotiating table, even as its pursues a summer offensive on the battlefield.
    Mehmet Guzel, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • Interestingly, Ukrainian intelligence operatives provided HTS with 150 FPV drones and 200 operators in the weeks proceeding their offensive.
    Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 2 June 2025
Noun
  • Access to care Over the past year, the insurance industry has come under strong criticism, and two measures in the bill attempt to rein in some of the practices that have elicited the most public outrage.
    Katy Golvala, Hartford Courant, 23 May 2025
  • The incident sparked outrage among community members leading to protests outside Congresswoman Greene's office.
    Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 May 2025
Noun
  • Old resentments simmer, new transgressions come to light, and the titular swimming pool plays a critical, climactic part.
    Gráinne O'Hara Belluomo, Footwear News, 26 May 2025
  • The relationship between writer and editor is fractious, tender, and ever-changing, with resentments and gratitude sloshing back and forth like a rooftop pool during an earthquake.
    Isle McElroy, Vulture, 21 May 2025
Noun
  • Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.
    Jacky Wong, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
  • Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.
    Reuters, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
  • These immigrants in Florida find Trump’s offer ‘an insult’ Many are skeptical.
    South Florida Sun Sentinel, Sun Sentinel, 2 June 2025
  • The master of appropriating insults just can’t do anything to make TACO his — Trump Always Cares Outstandingly just doesn’t have the same ring.
    Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 30 May 2025
Noun
  • Law enforcement officials believe the man, Ramon Morales Reyes, never wrote a letter that Noem and her department shared with a message written in light blue ink expressing anger over Trump’s deportations and threatening to shoot him in the head with a rifle at a rally.
    Mike Balsamo, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025
  • Law enforcement officials believe the man, Ramon Morales Reyes, never wrote a letter that Noem and her department shared with a message written in light blue ink expressing anger over Trump's deportations and threatening to shoot him in the head with a rifle at a rally.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 1 June 2025
Noun
  • Try supplements: Certain supplements, such as Riboflavin and CoQ10, can help reduce the frequency and severity of attacks.
    Verywell Health, Verywell Health, 6 June 2025
  • Gangs control at least 85% of its capital, Port-au-Prince, and have launched attacks in the country’s central region in recent years.
    Rob Picheta, CNN Money, 5 June 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 10 Jun. 2025.

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