take offense
idiom
: to become angry or upset by something that another person has said or done : to be offended by something
He took offense when I suggested exchanging the gift.
—often + atShe takes offense at any criticism.
Examples of take offense in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
When Lawrence declares the Cowboys as a team that isn’t going to win a Super Bowl in the next few years — Lawrence signed a three-year deal in Seattle — the core of the team is understandably going to take offense to that.
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Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Though some commenters criticized Trachtenberg for her response to Lively and Baldoni drama, Long didn’t take offense to the comment.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 27 Feb. 2025
Some people reflexively take offense on seeing those three letters, but this Electrified GV70 has been kept away from the growth hormones.
—Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2025
People are far more serious now, not just football, someone is always there on social media to take offense to every little thing.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take offense
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Saad Yousuf, The Athletic, 14 Mar. 2025
Though some commenters criticized Trachtenberg for her response to Lively and Baldoni drama, Long didn’t take offense to the comment.
—Jason Pham, StyleCaster, 27 Feb. 2025
Some people reflexively take offense on seeing those three letters, but this Electrified GV70 has been kept away from the growth hormones.
—Ars Technica, 6 Feb. 2025
People are far more serious now, not just football, someone is always there on social media to take offense to every little thing.
—Nick Miller, The Athletic, 6 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for take offense
Cite this Entry
“Take offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/take%20offense. Accessed 29 Mar. 2025.
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