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Synonym Chooser

How does the noun offense contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of offense are crime, scandal, sin, and vice. While all these words mean "a transgression of law," offense applies to the infraction of any law, rule, or code.

at that school no offense went unpunished

In what contexts can crime take the place of offense?

In some situations, the words crime and offense are roughly equivalent. However, crime implies a serious offense punishable by the law of the state.

the crime of murder

When can scandal be used instead of offense?

The words scandal and offense can be used in similar contexts, but scandal applies to an offense that outrages the public conscience.

a career ruined by a sex scandal

When is it sensible to use sin instead of offense?

The synonyms sin and offense are sometimes interchangeable, but sin implies an offense against moral or religious law.

the sin of blasphemy

Where would vice be a reasonable alternative to offense?

The meanings of vice and offense largely overlap; however, vice applies to a habit or practice that degrades or corrupts.

regarded gambling as a vice

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of offense That Porter seemed to disappear from Denver’s offense for prolonged stretches was a failure to take advantage of the situation by him, his teammates and Malone. Bennett Durando, The Denver Post, 19 Mar. 2025 The state measures include a $300 million allocation for immigration enforcement, and a death penalty provision for undocumented immigrants who commit capital offenses. David Lyons, Sun Sentinel, 19 Mar. 2025 But Scanlon disagreed, adding that the problem is that judges do not have discretion on the state’s 70+ mandatory minimum laws and that those survivors of domestic violence involved in offenses are getting the mandatory sentence no matter what. Livi Stanford, Hartford Courant, 18 Mar. 2025 Robert jump-started the Sox offense Monday against the Athletics, hitting a home run in the first inning. Lamond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for offense
Recent Examples of Synonyms for offense
Noun
  • Karma revolves around a fateful accident, which intertwines six lives in a tale of karma and crime, where each must face their own dark truths and connections.
    Sara Merican, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025
  • Prior to joining Fox News, Alexandra covered breaking news, crime, religion, and the military in the southeast.
    Alexandra Koch, Fox News, 19 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Such an international force would aim to dissuade Russia from launching another offensive after any cease-fire in Ukraine comes into effect.
    John Leicester, Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Israel's military offensive has killed more than 48,000 Palestinians in Gaza, mostly women and children, according to Gaza's Health Ministry, which doesn't say how many of the dead were militants.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 9 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • From multimillion-dollar fines to class-action lawsuits to public outrage, the consequences of mishandling tracking pixels are piling up fast.
    Jacques Nack, Forbes, 17 Mar. 2025
  • Local news outlet 10 News First captured footage of her wildlife interference that sparked international outrage.
    Zoey Lyttle, People.com, 17 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • From a psychological perspective, Saunders-Waldron highlighted how repeatedly ignoring someone's boundaries can breed resentment and emotional fatigue which can explain the woman's stance.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025
  • Fueled by years of resentment, Dante targets Dom’s family and closest friends, forcing the crew to scatter across the globe in a desperate bid to survive.
    Travis Bean, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Beijing has also softened its regulatory assault on Chinese technology companies and the property sector.
    Jacky Wong, WSJ, 6 Feb. 2023
  • Zelenskyy has warned for weeks that Moscow aims to step up its assault after about two months of virtual stalemate along the front line that stretches across the south and east.
    Reuters, NBC News, 31 Jan. 2023
Noun
  • The previous time Lilian had seen Imelda, who was sitting next to her in London, was ten years earlier, when her children were alive, but with some people mindless small talk would be an insult.
    Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
  • That’s because Trump’s approach isn’t just an insult to Zelensky but to Ukraine itself and its institution of national leadership.
    Illia Ponomarenko, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • President Donald Trump has reacted with anger after Ontario Premier Doug Ford announced a new 25 percent surcharge on electricity exports to the United States, in response to a wave of tariffs on Canadian goods.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 11 Mar. 2025
  • This has allowed our sibling relationship to remain intact and there is no resentment or anger.
    R. Eric Thomas, The Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Grimes said that, in the experience of KnowBe4, social engineering is involved in 70% - 90% of all successful hacking attacks.
    Davey Winder, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • Analysts said the attack and its focus on civilians could backfire.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 13 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Offense.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/offense. Accessed 23 Mar. 2025.

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