insolence
Americannoun
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contemptuously rude or impertinent behavior or speech.
-
the quality or condition of being insolent.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of insolence
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word insolentia. See insolent, -ence
Explanation
Insolence is a rude, disrespectful act. The teenager's insolence got her in trouble with her teachers. Insolence is an act of or the trait of being a jerk, especially to someone you should respect. Insolence is what rude and stuck-up people show off every chance they get. They ignore their parents, walk out on dinner bills, elbow old people out of the way, and tell professors their clothes look cheap. Insolence is a trait to get rid of, not flaunt. Teenagers often embrace insolence when they get to the age when they think their parents are stupid. (It usually wears off.)
Vocabulary lists containing insolence
Chains
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Heart of Darkness
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Nothing But the Truth
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
"Look around you at these monstrosities of insanity, insolence, incompetence and degeneration," he declared in his opening address.
From Salon ● Jun. 8, 2025
Moscow accused Pashinyan of behaviour bordering on insolence, and on Friday summoned Armenia's ambassador to protest against "hostile steps".
From Reuters ● Sep. 12, 2023
In a league that has absorbed the competitive nastiness of Bill Laimbeer and Ron Artest and John Stockton and Charles Oakley, Green may be the first player sent home for repeated insolence.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 20, 2023
Here she’s all foulmouthed verve, her adolescent insolence turbocharged by the liberation of living after the end of the world.
From New York Times ● Jan. 12, 2023
‘Do not bandy words in your insolence with the Mouth of Sauron!’ he cried.
From "The Return of the King" by J.R.R. Tolkien
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
