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
The Frenchmen then imagined that Smith's remarks had been insulting, and his friends had silenced him on that account.
From Brewster's Millions by George Barr McCutcheon
Though they had once or twice had a difference of opinion, this was the first time that Harry had been insulting, and Frank found it impossible to pass over what he had said.
From The Boy Ranchers of Puget Sound by Harold Bindloss
