insolence

[ in-suh-luh ns ]

/ ˈɪn sə ləns /

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SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR insolence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

contemptuously rude or impertinent behavior or speech.

the quality or condition of being insolent.

RELATED WORDS

gall, contumely, contempt, presumption, insubordination, arrogance, lip, sauce, impudence, impertinence, incivility, brazenness, guff, abuse, rudeness, brass, chutzpah, effrontery, hardihood, sass

Nearby words

insofar as, insol., insolate, insolation, insole, insolence, insolent, insolubilize, insoluble, insolvable, insolvency

Origin of insolence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word insolentia. See insolent, -ence

Related forms

o·ver·in·so·lence, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for insolence

Their insolence, luxury, degeneracy had gone to great lengths.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
An incident, illustrative of his summary methods of dealing with the insolence of his enemies in authority, occurred at Pensacola.
The Battle of New Orleans|Zachary F. Smith
Perhaps silence was the best retort to her air of insolence.
The Honour of the Clintons|Archibald Marshall
It was insolence—brutal, overbearing insolence, with physical menace behind it.
The Croxley Master: A Great Tale Of The Prize Ring|Arthur Conan Doyle

The thing carries itself to my maturer and gratified sense as with every symptom of soundness, an insolence of health and joy.
The Awkward Age|Henry James