deepest offense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "deepest offense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to express a strong feeling of being insulted or wronged by someone's actions or words. Example: "I must express my deepest offense at the remarks made during the meeting; they were completely uncalled for."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

1 human-written examples

"I take deepest offense to and will continue to fight against discrimination against people of any religious group or background," he said in a statement.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

56 human-written examples

Ignatieff's deeper offense in the Iraq arguments was in those pronouns.

The New Yorker

But other Israelis were less ready to dismiss the remarks, and not only because of the deep offense they caused.

The New York Times

Verses such as "Protecting human rights, airstrikes and firefights/We'll be dropping our bombs, wherever Serbian bad guys hide," caused deep offense.

The New York Times

As a Lebanese citizen, I take deep offense at the characterization of the occupation of Lebanon as described by the deputy chief of mission to the Syrian Embassy (letter, Sept. 10).

The New York Times

"To say that I'm supportive of racial profiling -- I take deep offense at that," said Mr. Bratton, giving a hint of what he might have been like as a candidate for mayor had he not decided to skip this race and support Mr. Green.

The New York Times

Williams was prickly, Ryan recalled, and took deep offense at what he felt were invasions of his privacy when the Boston newspapers criticized him early in his career for not visiting his mother in San Diego in the off-season, or when he went fishing when his first child was born instead of being present for the birth.

The New York Times - Sports

It has caused hurt and deep offense.

BBC

They quickly jumped on the remark, declaring deep offense.

Huffington Post

In the fourth edition of "The American Language," Wolfgang Mieder notes that the word "spade" (among others) "will give deep offense if used by nonblacks".

Huffington Post

As Kumar notes, once the right-wing bandwagon of hate started to roll, "leading Democrats like Harry Reid and Howard Dean... jumped on" -- and a positive asset to the community turned into the "ground zero mosque," a deep offense to bigots and warmongers everywhere..

Huffington Post

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "deepest offense" when you want to express the most intense level of feeling insulted or wronged. It's stronger than simply saying you are offended.

Common error

Avoid using "deepest offense" in trivial situations. It's reserved for circumstances where the insult or wrong is truly significant and personally impactful.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "deepest offense" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "deepest" modifies the noun "offense". It describes a feeling of profound insult or wrong. As confirmed by Ludwig AI, this phrase is perfectly valid in English.

Expression frequency: Uncommon

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "deepest offense" is a valid and grammatically correct expression used to convey a profound sense of being insulted or wronged. Ludwig AI confirms its usability in English. While not exceedingly common, it finds its primary context in news and media, indicating its suitability for expressing strong feelings in serious or formal settings. The phrase is most appropriately used when describing a situation where the insult or wrong is truly significant and personally impactful, it's stronger than simply feeling offended. Related phrases, such as "greatest insult" or "most profound indignation", offer alternative ways to express a similar sentiment, varying slightly in nuance and intensity.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

deepest insult

Similar to the original phrase, but focuses on the action that caused the offense.

grievous insult

Highlights the harmful nature of the insult.

greatest insult

Emphasizes the magnitude of the insult rather than the feeling of being offended.

most profound indignation

Replaces "offense" with a stronger term, "indignation", suggesting righteous anger.

strongest outrage

Highlights the feeling of outrage and anger caused by the offense.

severe affront

Uses a more formal term, "affront", for the offense.

utter contempt

Indicates a complete lack of respect and a feeling of superiority.

extreme umbrage

Uses a less common word, "umbrage", to convey offense.

unforgivable slight

Focuses on the act as a violation of personal dignity.

intense displeasure

A more restrained expression of strong disapproval and offense.

FAQs

How can I express a strong feeling of insult without using "deepest offense"?

You could use phrases like "greatest insult", "most profound indignation", or "grievous insult", depending on the nuance you want to convey.

Is "deepest offense" the same as "deep offense"?

While similar, "deepest offense" implies a more profound and intense feeling of being wronged compared to "deep offense". The former suggests the maximum level of insult felt.

Can "deepest offense" be used in formal writing?

Yes, "deepest offense" is appropriate for formal writing when expressing a serious feeling of being insulted or wronged. It maintains a professional tone while conveying strong emotion.

What is the difference between "taking offense" and "deepest offense"?

"Taking offense" is a general term for feeling insulted, while "deepest offense" signifies the strongest possible feeling of insult. It's a matter of degree of intensity.