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Glite Dictionary
offending

offending

24 4.5
Doing something that breaks a law, rule, or usual practice
  • adjective
  • /əˈfɛndɪŋ/
: infractor
  • He was charged with offending the regulations set by the environmental agency.

I've done just offending behaviour programmes, done Resolve.

Examples

  • The court found him guilty of offending the local noise ordinances.

  • I'M SURE HE WAS OFFERING THE SHERIFF THE OFFENDING GUN, EXACTLY AS HE ONCE OFFERED ME HIS TRESPASSING HOGS.

    Cross Creek (1983)

  • What other offending news do you have for me?

    The Forbidden Kingdom (2008)

  • So I got the offending pages off the property.

  • Go to therapy, tacky offending behaviour, do some courses.

  • I can actually go in and grab that offending frequency here and tighten the cue up.

  • I've done just offending behaviour programmes, done Resolve.

    Anything Goes With James English

  • Her offending comments during the meeting led to a formal complaint.

Synonyms

to infringe
vsoffending
  • Formal
57 6.8

Break a rule or law and go against someone's rights

is broader, covering any breach not only exceeding legal limits
to offend
vsoffending
28 4.6

Break a law, rule, contract or promise

describes being in breach or violating rather than performing the act
to flout
vsoffending
16 7.9

To openly disobey a rule or law to show you do not respect it

describes rule breaking more generally, not necessarily with contempt
to transgress
vsoffending
13 7.8

To do something that breaks a law, rule, or your idea of right and wrong

is focused on legal or rule breach without moral emphasis
to violate
vsoffending
8 4.9

Treat a place, object, or tradition in a way that shows no respect

covers breaking rules too but is less about disrespect or desecration
to contravene
vsoffending
  • Formal
6 8.2

To break a law, rule, or agreement

is the general idea of being in violation rather than opposing officially
cheating
vsoffending
3 2.0

Breaking rules to get an unfair advantage

is general rule breaking without the specific dishonesty or unfairness focus
to infract
vsoffending
  • Archaic
1 9.9

To break a law, rule, contract, or promise

refers to being wrongful or in breach without focusing on action

Antonyms

lawful
  • Formal
73 2.9

Allowed by the law

compliant
35 5.1

Willing to follow rules or do what other people want

How Serious

to commit crime
288 2.5
offending
24 4.5
violation
525 4.1
to breach
  • Formal
15 4.5
to disobey
113 3.7

Surface Forms

offending positive

Morphology

offending = offend (transparent) = offend + ing

The adjective is a regular participial/adjectival form of the verb 'offend' formed with '-ing' and keeps the expected meaning.

Etymology

Offending comes from the verb offend, which originally meant 'to strike against' or 'hurt'. Think of it like the words defend and fend: when something 'strikes against' a person or a rule, it is offending, so today it means 'breaking a rule' or 'causing harm'.