Basic Details
Word: Offended
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Upset, hurt or annoyed because of something someone said or did. It is also the past tense of offend.
Synonyms: hurt, upset, insulted
Antonyms: pleased, flattered
How to Spell Offended
Syllables: of - fend - ed
Tricky part: Two f's at the start and a single d before ed. Students often drop an f.
Watch out for: ofended, offendid, offennded
Memory tip: Offend hides the word end: off + END + ed. Spell off with its two f's, then end, then ed.
Usage Examples
Example 1: Grandpa felt offended when the waiter served everyone except him.
Example 2: I hope I haven't offended you with my question.
Example 3: The neighbours looked offended when we did not invite them to the puja.
Fun Fact
Offend comes from Latin offendere, 'to strike against', and the same root gives offensive, which in war or sport means attacking.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word offended as used in the sentence:
The minister was deeply offended by a rude cartoon in the morning paper.
a) upset
b) insulted
c) hurt
d) pleased
Show answer
d) pleased. Had the minister liked the cartoon, he would have been pleased, the opposite of offended.
Word Cookie
One word in this sentence is misspelt. Find it:
Meera felt ofended when her best friend laughed at her drawing in front of the whole class, but by lunchtime the two of them were sharing tiffin again.
a) ofended
b) lunchtime
c) drawing
d) tiffin
Show answer
a) ofended. Offended starts with off, and off has two f's.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The rude joke dfefoned several guests at the wedding.
a) defended
b) extended
c) offended
d) offered
Show answer
c) offended. Defended lacks the second f, offered needs an r, and extended an x and a t.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which remark would most likely leave someone offended?
a) Thank you for lunch.
b) That was a lovely song.
c) Happy birthday to you.
d) Your house is a mess.
Show answer
d) Your house is a mess.
2. Someone who is easily offended ____.
a) rarely speaks
b) gets hurt by small remarks
c) never notices insults
d) laughs at everything
Show answer
b) gets hurt by small remarks
