What is the word for the state of being offended?
Dictionary.com lists "offendedness" as an acceptable noun:
Related forms
- offendable, adjective
- offendedly, adverb
- offendedness, noun
- offender, noun
- half-offended, adjective
But I do agree with you that it sounds a bit stilted. Regardless, it is still correct.
Though there is no synonymous noun (none that I can find, at least), there are alternatives that you can use.
Using a gerund, you can convert a verb into a noun. This means that "to take offense" and "to be offended" are valid when you use them as a gerund:
- I tried to avoid taking offense.
- I know I am sensitive to being offended.