offense

noun

ə-ˈfen(t)s How to pronounce offense (audio)
variants or offence
Definition of offensenext
1
as in crime
a breaking of a moral or legal code wartime offenses that are crimes against all of humanity

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in offensive
the act or action of setting upon with force or violence combat casualties grew enormously as the weapons of offense became far more technologically advanced than defensive armor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in outrage
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings a diplomat never deliberately gives offense

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in resentment
the feeling of being offended or resentful after a slight or indignity my mother was prone to take offense even at the most innocent remark

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 But are teams aware of the Racers’ offense? —The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025 Iowa’s offense took a step back from the Clark days in average scoring and pace, but its defense has improved dramatically. —The Athletic, 22 Mar. 2025 Trafficking weapons to cartels is a federal offense punishable by up to 25 years in prison. —Michael Loria, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2025 His federal charges include hate crimes and weapons offenses. —David Matthews, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
  1. crime
  2. offensive
  3. outrage
  4. resentment
  5. assault
  6. insult
  7. anger
  8. attack
Noun
  • The Lost Hills Sheriff’s Station watch commander informed the Times no crime had taken place at the residence.
    — Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 10 Apr. 2025
  • Australia, Canada, Ireland, and Switzerland rounded out the top five in that report which analyzed crime rates, crowding levels, and peace/safety indexes.
    — Michael Cappetta, Travel + Leisure, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of crime
Noun
  • Ukraine said this week that Russian troops were already carrying out a new offensive.
    — David Faris, MSNBC Newsweek, 12 Apr. 2025
  • The Rapid Support Forces and allied militias launched an offensive on the Zamzam and Abu Shouk camps and the nearby city of El Fasher, the provincial capital of North Darfur province, on Friday, said Clementine Nkweta-Salami, United Nations resident and humanitarian coordinator in Sudan.
    — Samy Magdy, Los Angeles Times, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of offensive
Noun
  • Italy has halted talks on a potential $1.5 billion deal for secure government communications amid outrage over threats to cut off Ukraine’s access to Starlink.
    — Jeremy Bogaisky, Forbes.com, 9 Apr. 2025
  • The National Parks Service has restored the original Harriet Tubman material featured on a webpage about the Underground Railroad after garnering outrage over its removal.
    — David Matthews, New York Daily News, 9 Apr. 2025
Definition of outrage
Noun
  • The Left’s point is to drill home the notion that conservatism is all incoherent and barely stifled rage and resentment and not about ideas, principles, and the values of a moral, free society.
    — Doug Ducey, National Review, 14 Apr. 2025
  • This boundary-crossing behavior systematically erodes a couple’s autonomy, breeding resentment and powerlessness that can eventually culminate in divorce.
    — Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 12 Apr. 2025
Definition of resentment
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
Definition of assault
Noun
  • The imitation Punisher logo on Cole’s bullet was no act of flattery, but the most vile of insults.
    — Proma Khosla, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 2025
  • But some Republican registrars took them as an insult, and at least one, Lisa Amatruda of Woodbury, walked out.
    — Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2025
Definition of insult
Noun
  • So, Joe comes in with a lot of hostility, a lot of anger, a lot of rage for what happened.
    — Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 13 Apr. 2025
  • Damn, again, my woulda, shoulda anger steams beneath a somewhat placid exterior.
    — Jim Cramer, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2025
Definition of anger
Noun
  • In March, two days of U.S. attacks killed more than 50 people, Houthi officials said.
    — USA Today, USA Today, 19 Apr. 2025
  • The company highlights one type of attack that is now targeting users and which is especially dangerous.
    — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 18 Apr. 2025
Definition of attack

Browse Nearby Words

offends
offense
offenses
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Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 22 Apr. 2025.

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More from Merriam-Webster on offense

Nglish: Translation of offense for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about offense

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