1
crime: He and Lieutenant Cassidy were checking the scene of the crime.
wrong: …a man who believes that he has done no wrong.
sin: Was it the sin of pride to have believed too much in themselves?
wrongdoing: The city attorney's office hasn't found any evidence of criminal wrongdoing.
2
outrage: The Treaty has failed to arouse genuine public outrage.
anger: Ellen felt both despair and anger at her mother.
indignation: No wonder he could hardly contain his indignation.
of|fend /əfe nd/ (offends , offending , offended )
1 VERB If you offend someone, you say or do something rude which upsets or embarrasses them. □ [V n] He apologizes for his comments and says he had no intention of offending the community. □ [be V -ed] The survey found almost 90 percent of people were offended by strong swearwords. □ [V ] Television censors are cutting out scenes which they claim may offend. ● of|fend|ed ADJ [v-link ADJ ] □ She is terribly offended, angered and hurt by this.
2 VERB To offend against a law, rule, or principle means to break it. [FORMAL ] □ [V + against ] This bill offends against good sense and against justice. □ [V n] The peak age for offending the law is between 15 and 25.
3 VERB [no cont] If someone offends , they commit a crime. [FORMAL ] □ [V ] In Western countries girls are far less likely to offend than boys.
of|fend|er /əfe ndə r / (offenders )
1 N‑COUNT An offender is a person who has committed a crime. □ This led to a large number of convicted offenders being released from prison.
2 N‑COUNT You can refer to someone or something which you think is causing a problem as an offender . □ Excessive noise was the worst offender in a list of complaints made to landlords.
of|fend|ing /əfe nd I ŋ/
1 ADJ You can use offending to describe something that is causing a problem that needs to be dealt with. □ The book was withdrawn for the offending passages to be deleted.
2 N‑UNCOUNT Offending is the act of committing a crime. □ Ms Mann is working with young offenders and trying to break cycles of offending.
of|fense /əfe ns, ɒ fens/ → see offence
of|fen|sive ◆◇◇ /əfe ns I v/ (offensives )
1 ADJ Something that is offensive upsets or embarrasses people because it is rude or insulting. □ Some friends of his found the play horribly offensive. □ …offensive remarks which called into question the integrity of my firm. ● of|fen|sive|ly ADV [ADV after v, oft ADV adj] □ The group who had been shouting offensively opened to let her through.
2 N‑COUNT A military offensive is a carefully planned attack made by a large group of soldiers. □ [+ against ] Its latest military offensive against rebel forces is aimed at re-opening trade routes.
3 N‑COUNT If you conduct an offensive , you take strong action to show how angry you are about something or how much you disapprove of something. □ [+ on ] Republicans acknowledged that they had little choice but to mount an all-out offensive on the Democratic nominee.
4 → see also charm offensive
5 PHRASE If you go on the offensive , go over to the offensive , or take the offensive , you begin to take strong action against people who have been attacking you. □ The West African forces went on the offensive in response to attacks on them. □ The Foreign Secretary has decided to take the offensive in the discussion on the future of the community. SYNONYMS offensive ADJ 1
rude: Unfair bosses and rude customers make us unhappy on the job.
insulting: One of the apprentices made an insulting remark to a passing officer.
objectionable: I find your tone highly objectionable.
disrespectfuclass="underline" They shouldn't treat their mother in this disrespectful way.
of|fer ◆◆◆ /ɒ fə r , [AM ] ɔː fər/ (offers , offering , offered )
1 VERB If you offer something to someone, you ask them if they would like to have it or use it. □ [V n + to ] He has offered seats at the conference table to the Russian leader and the president of Kazakhstan. □ [V n n] The number of companies offering them work increased. □ [V n] Western governments have offered aid.
2 VERB If you offer to do something, you say that you are willing to do it. □ [V to-inf] Peter offered to teach them water-skiing. □ [V with quote] 'Can I get you a drink?' she offered.
3 N‑COUNT An offer is something that someone says they will give you or do for you. □ [+ of ] The offer of talks marks a significant change from their previous position. □ 'I ought to reconsider her offer to move in,' he mused. □ He had refused several excellent job offers.
4 VERB If you offer someone information, advice, or praise, you give it to them, usually because you feel that they need it or deserve it. □ [V n] They manage a company offering advice on mergers and acquisitions. □ [be V -ed n] They are offered very little counselling or support. [Also V n + to ]