take offence
React to slight
To take offence is to feel hurt, insulted, or resentful at something said or done: She took offence at his comment about her cooking.
The phrase implies the reaction may be disproportionate or unintended by the other party—someone who takes offence finds insult where none may have been meant.
British spelling; Americans write *take offense*.
Offended by disrespect
- affrontedInsulted or disrespected
- indignantAngered by unfairness
- woundedHaving sustained harm
- hurtCause or feel pain
upset · aggrieved · stung · bruised · pained · distressed · dismayed · disheartened
Sharp, unpleasant taste
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- angryFeeling strong displeasure
- fumingExtremely angry, visibly so
incensed · resentful · aggrieved · disgruntled · antagonistic · acrimonious · seething · smoldering
Easily upset or offended
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- oversensitiveExcessively prone to offense
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- defensiveProtective or easily threatened
hypersensitive · tetchy · temperamental · edgy · irritable · delicate · fragile ego
Treated as unimportant
- snubbedIntentionally disregarded
- disrespectedTreated with contempt
- belittledMade to seem insignificant
- demeanedCaused loss of dignity
disparaged · scorned · mocked · derided · spurned · rebuffed · dismissed · overlooked
Incorrectly understood another's meaning
- misunderstoodIncorrectly comprehended
- misreadInterpret text incorrectly
- misinterpretedUnderstood incorrectly
- jumped to conclusionsFormed opinions prematurely
wrong end of the stick · overreacted · misjudged · false impression
insulted
Offended by disrespect
hurt · upset · aggrieved · stung · bruised · pained · distressed · dismayed · disheartened · crushed
bitter
Sharp, unpleasant taste
- grudgePersistent resentment toward someone
- hostileAggressively unfriendly
- angryFeeling strong displeasure
fuming · incensed · resentful · aggrieved · disgruntled · antagonistic · acrimonious · seething · smoldering · unforgiving
touchy
Easily upset or offended
- thin-skinnedEasily hurt by remarks
- oversensitiveExcessively prone to offense
- pricklySpiny or irritable
defensive · hypersensitive · tetchy · temperamental · edgy · irritable · delicate · fragile ego
slighted
Treated as unimportant
- snubbedIntentionally disregarded
- disrespectedTreated with contempt
- belittledMade to seem insignificant
demeaned · disparaged · scorned · mocked · derided · spurned · rebuffed · dismissed · overlooked · undervalued
misconstrued
Incorrectly understood another's meaning
- misunderstoodIncorrectly comprehended
- misreadInterpret text incorrectly
- misinterpretedUnderstood incorrectly
jumped to conclusions · wrong end of the stick · overreacted · misjudged · false impression
take offencebrush it off
shrug it off · turn the other cheek · laugh it off · let it go · take it on the chin
take, offence, offense, takes, taken, taking, taker, takers, undertake