offense
Breach of law
Offense centers on wrongdoing or attack.
An offense is a violation of rules or laws: a criminal offense, a minor traffic offense.
To cause offense is to upset or insult someone: I meant no offense.
In sports, offense refers to the attacking side—the team trying to score, opposite of defense.
To take offense is to feel insulted or hurt by something said or done.
The British spelling is offence.
Serious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- violationBreaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
- transgressionViolation of law or code
wrongdoing · misdeed · breach · trespass · lawbreaking · illegality · criminal act
Offensive remark or action
- slightMinor or thin
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
- disrespectLack of regard
- outrageFierce moral indignation
indignity · humiliation · put-down · slur · rebuff · disparagement · belittlement · degradation
Aggressive act against another
- assaultViolent offensive act
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- violenceHarmful physical force
- combativenessInclination toward conflict
belligerence · antagonism · pugnacity · confrontation · intimidation · provocation · aggressiveness · militancy
Earning points in competition
- attackAggressive act against another
- touchdownSix-point gridiron play
- goalDesired end result
- pointsUnits of tally
drive · possession · red zone · fast break · power play
Violation of divine law
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- immoralityQuality of being wicked
- iniquityMoral wrongdoing, grave injustice
vice · misdeed · trespass · guilt · wickedness · depravity · corruption · indecency
felony
Serious criminal offense
- misdemeanorLesser criminal charge
- violationBreaking of rules
- infractionMinor rule breach
transgression · wrongdoing · misdeed · breach · trespass · lawbreaking · illegality · criminal act
insult
Offensive remark or action
- slightMinor or thin
- snubDeliberate dismissive rejection
- disrespectLack of regard
outrage · indignity · humiliation · put-down · slur · rebuff · disparagement · belittlement · degradation · discourtesy
attack
Aggressive act against another
- assaultViolent offensive act
- hostilityAntagonistic disposition toward others
- violenceHarmful physical force
combativeness · belligerence · antagonism · pugnacity · confrontation · intimidation · provocation · aggressiveness · militancy · truculence
scoring
Earning points in competition
points · drive · possession · red zone · fast break · power play
sin
Violation of divine law
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- wrongdoingUnethical or illegal action
- immoralityQuality of being wicked
iniquity · vice · misdeed · trespass · guilt · wickedness · depravity · corruption · indecency · impropriety
- footballfootball, touchdown, field goal, quarterback, end zone
- basketballbasketball, rebound, dunk, basketball camps, dribble
- Americanismsaluminum, fixin' to, apartment, howdy, candy
- game strategiescounterattack, formation, positioning, power play, finesse
- game strategybluffing, feinting, misdirection, positioning, counterattack
- violationsviolation, infractions, infraction, breach, consent violation
offensedefense
Protection against harm
defence · defensive · guard · protection · shield
offenseinnocence
Freedom from wrongdoing
virtue · righteousness · obedience · goodness · blamelessness
- no offenseVerbal cushion before criticism
- offensive lineFootball's protective forward squad
- take offenseFeel insulted or hurt
- no offense butPreamble to rudeness
- repeat offenderPerson repeatedly convicted
- easily offendedProne to taking umbrage
offensive, offend, offended, offender, offence, offending, offenses, offences, offensively