verb
offend
uh-FEHND
verb
1
To hurt someone's feelings or upset them, often unintentionally.
"His blunt comment offended several people at the table."
"She didn't mean to offend anyone with her joke."
2
To break a law or moral rule.
"The company's practices clearly offended against basic safety standards."
How to Use Offend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo upset or insult someone, or to break a rule or law.
Common pairings
offend someone
easily offended
offend against
Word Forms
offended past tense, offends singular
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His blunt comment _____ several people at the table.
Etymology
From Latin offendere, "to strike against", from ob- ("against") plus fendere ("to strike").