insult
verb (used with object)
to treat or speak to insolently or with contemptuous rudeness; affront.
had been insulting
-
past perfect progressiveof insult.past perfect progressive
Used to describe an action that was ongoing continuously in the past up until another past event interrupted it.
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.
Fran Drescher, former star of "The Nanny" and the president of SAG-AFTRA, said studios' responses to the actors' concerns had been "insulting and disrespectful."
From Reuters ● Jul. 13, 2023
Ryan now realizes that during that confrontation, he had been insulting voters without realizing it.
From Washington Times ● Aug. 19, 2014
They say, for instance, London is too hideous for words, and then they look at me defiantly, as though they had been insulting some personal defect of mine and meant to brazen it out.
From Christine by Alice Cholmondeley
If there had been insulting behaviour, the insult had anyway been mutual.
From The Party by Constance Garnett
He had not been respectful—indeed, in plain English, he had been insulting.
From The Squire's Daughter by Silas K(itto) Hocking
