Definition of offend | Collins English Dictionary

offend (əˈfɛnd)

ofˈfender noun ofˈfending adjective

C14: via Old French offendre to strike against, from Latin offendere, from ob- against + fendere to strike

View thesaurus entry

= distress, upset, outrage, pain, wound, slight, provoke, insult, annoy, irritate, put down, dismay, snub, aggravate, gall, agitate, ruffle, disconcert, vex, affront, displease, rile, pique, give offence, hurt (someone's) feelings nark, cut to the quick miff, tread on (someone's) toes piss you off put (someone's) nose out of joint put (someone's) back up disgruntle, get (someone's) goat hack someone off

= disgust, revolt, turn (someone) off put off, sicken, repel, repulse, nauseate, gross out, make (someone) sick turn someone's stomach be disagreeable to fill with loathing

= break the law sin, err, do wrong fall, fall from grace go astray,

British English: offend If you offend someone, you upset or embarrass them.I'm sorry if I offended you. Television censors are cutting out scenes which they claim may offend.əˈfɛnd VERB I'm sorry if I offended you. Television censors are cutting out scenes which they claim may offend.
Spanish: ofender v
French: offusquer vt
German: beleidigen v
Chinese: 犯罪 v
Arabic: يُسيِءُ إِلَى vt
Portuguese: ofender v
Russian: нарушать v
Croatian: uvrijediti v
Czech: urazit v urážet
Danish: fornærme v
Dutch: beledigen v
Finnish: loukata v
Greek: θίγω v
Italian: offendere v
Japanese: 不快感を与える v
Korean: 위반하다 v
Norwegian: fornærme v
Polish: obrazić v obrażać
Brazilian Portuguese: ofender v
European Spanish: ofender v
Swedish: förnärma v
Thai: ทำให้ขุ่นเคือง v
Turkish: gücendirmek v
Vietnamese: xúc phạm v

I wouldn't like to offend...' `I'll do what the situation demands, "the pilot rejoined curtly.
Jenkins, Geoffrey, A Daystar of Fear (1994)
Anything that expresses strong opinions is bound to offend at least some people - which is hardly a reason for regulating it.
Spiked (2004)
In response to worries by Jewish groups, he has said the film is intended" to inspire, not offend.
Toronto Sun (2003)
Nothing will offend us," Zhu Rongji, China's Prime Minister, told Tony Blair yesterday.
Independent (1998)
Even though her intent is loving, her suggestions do offend and hurt.
John Gray, MEN ARE FROM MARS, WOMEN ARE FROM VENUS: Get seriously involved with the classic guide to surviving the opposite sex (2002)