- 1
To hurt the feelings of; to displease; to make angry; to insult.transitive
- Your accusations offend me deeply.
- 2
To feel or become offended; to take insult.intransitive
- Don't worry. I don't offend easily.
- 3
To physically harm, pain.transitive
- Strong light offends the eye.
- 4
To annoy, cause discomfort or resent.transitive
- Physically enjoyable frivolity can still offend the conscience
- 5
To sin, transgress divine law or moral rules.intransitive
- I dailie and hourelie offend in thought, word, and deed, in a relapſe by mine owne weakneſſe and wilfulneſſe, my bonus Genius, my good protecting angel is gone, I am falne from that I was, or would bee, worſe and worſe, […]
- 6
To transgress or violate a law or moral requirement.transitive
- Wearing faded baggy offends against the club's rules of proper dress.
- 7
To cause to stumble; to cause to sin or to fall.archaicobsoletetransitive
- "If any man offend not (stumbles not, is not tripped up) in word, the same is a perfect man."
- "If thine eye offend thee, pluck it out."
syn. abuse · affront · burn · carry · cut down · disrespect · dis · diss · give stick · heckle · hurt someone's feelings · insult
ant. commend · compliment · flatter · laud · praise · revere · talk up