worst offense

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "worst offense" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe the most serious or egregious wrongdoing in a particular context, such as legal, moral, or social discussions. Example: "In the debate about the new policy, many argued that the worst offense was the lack of transparency in the decision-making process."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

"Today I coached the worst offense in America, which would make me the worst offensive coach in America".

The New York Times

Bill Cubit resigned as offensive coordinator at Rutgers, which had the nation's worst offense last season.

The New York Times - Sports

The Mets have the worst offense in baseball.

The New York Times - Sports

The Mets had the worst offense in baseball last season.

The New York Times - Sports

Without his touch, the Bobcats might also be flirting with the league's worst offense.

The New York Times

Suddenly, the worst offense in baseball became the best offense in baseball.

The New Yorker

George, as usual -- and the Browns, who have the league's worst offense.

The New York Times - Sports

His worst offense came when he short-armed a sure-thing touchdown catch because he heard footsteps.

The New York Times

His worst offense might have been closing the community pool (yes, he owned that, too) as a cost-saving measure.

The New York Times

Her worst offense, detractors said, was pushing artists to release inferior works to fill the torrid demand of the era.

The New York Times - Style

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

1 human-written examples

Using the advanced statistics of offensive rating and defensive rating, the Bobcats are the ninth-worst offense and the 119th-worst defense in league history.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "worst offense" when you want to emphasize the most serious or objectionable action within a range of possible wrongdoings. Ensure the context makes it clear what the other, lesser offenses are for comparison.

Common error

Avoid using "worst offense" without establishing a clear range of offenses for comparison. If there's only one offense, it's simply 'the offense', not the 'worst'.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "worst offense" functions as a noun phrase that typically serves as the subject or object of a sentence. According to Ludwig AI, it denotes the most serious or egregious wrongdoing. This is evident in examples where it is used to identify the most severe action within a series of events.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Encyclopedias

10%

Wiki

5%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Science

3%

Academia

4%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "worst offense" is a noun phrase used to describe the most severe or objectionable action in a given context. According to Ludwig AI, the phrase is grammatically correct. It commonly appears in news and media, as well as encyclopedic and wiki sources. When using this phrase, ensure there is a clear comparison to other offenses to justify the "worst" designation. Alternatives include "most egregious act" and "most serious transgression". Its usage is generally neutral and slightly formal, making it suitable for a variety of writing contexts. Finally, to avoid misusing it, make sure you have contextually established other offenses that allow you to use comparative adjective to describe the "worst offense".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

most egregious act

Focuses on the shocking or outrageous nature of the act.

most serious transgression

Highlights the severity of the violation of a rule or law.

gravest violation

Emphasizes the profound seriousness of the breach.

most inexcusable deed

Stresses the lack of justification for the action.

biggest mistake

Focuses on the error in judgment that led to the action.

most damaging error

Highlights the harm caused by the mistake.

greatest fault

Emphasizes the flaw or defect that led to the action.

most unacceptable behavior

Focuses on the inappropriateness of the conduct.

chief wrongdoing

Highlights the primary act of misconduct.

cardinal sin

Emphasizes the fundamental and unforgivable nature of the action.

FAQs

How can I use "worst offense" in a sentence?

The phrase "worst offense" is used to describe the most egregious wrongdoing in a particular context. For example: "His "worst offense" was lying to the authorities."

What are some alternatives to "worst offense"?

You can use alternatives like "most egregious act", "most serious transgression", or "gravest violation" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "the worse offense" instead of "worst offense"?

No, "worse offense" is used when comparing two offenses, while "worst offense" is used when identifying the most severe among multiple offenses.

What's the difference between "worst offense" and "serious offense"?

"Serious offense" indicates a significant wrongdoing, while "worst offense" identifies the most severe or objectionable act within a set of offenses.