insolent

[ in-suh-luhnt ]

See synonyms for: insolent insolents insolently on Thesaurus.com

adjective

boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting: an insolent reply.

noun

an insolent person.

Origin of insolent

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Latin insolent- (stem of insolēns ) “departing from custom,” equivalent to in- in-³ + sol- (stem of solēre “to be accustomed”) + -ent- -ent

synonym study For insolent

1. See impertinent.

Other words for insolent

1	brazen; contemptuous

See synonyms for insolent on Thesaurus.com

Other words from insolent

in·so·lent·ly, adverb
o·ver·in·so·lent, adjective
o·ver·in·so·lent·ly, adverb

Words Nearby insolent

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use insolent in a sentence

Their very posture—the way they loitered and leaned and lolled about—was insolent.
The Not-Always-Greatest Generation | David Margolick | July 12, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
Hollande's idea was regarded as insolent when he first pitched it.
French President François Hollande Goes to Washington | Tracy McNicoll | May 18, 2012 | THE DAILY BEAST
Imperious despot, insolent in strife, Lover of ruin, enemy of life!
Egypt's Revolutionary Poetry | Josh Dzieza | February 3, 2011 | THE DAILY BEAST
It was an urgency that some saw as bold and others viewed as insolent.
Growing the Girls' Club | Samuel P. Jacobs | December 8, 2009 | THE DAILY BEAST
This means that the lazy, insolent functionnaire mentality prevails rather than a hard-working energetic one.
Only the French Would Be Smug About the Recession | Janine di Giovanni | December 11, 2008 | THE DAILY BEAST

Under the long lashes of low lids a pair of eyes black and insolent set off the haughty lines of her scarlet lips.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
But he is as insolent as you could wish, and has a superb confidence in himself that his enemies call by the most offensive names.
Ancestors | Gertrude Atherton
The insolent tone of him was like having one's face slapped, and it didn't pass over Lyn's head by any means.
Raw Gold | Bertrand W. Sinclair
Of course I had to satisfy the ruffian's insolent demands, but I did so under protest.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
Aristide for the first time abandoned his lazy and insolent attitude and jumped to his feet.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. Locke

British Dictionary definitions for insolent

insolent

/ (ˈɪnsələnt) /

adjective

offensive, impudent, or disrespectful

Origin of insolent

C14: from Latin insolens, from in- 1 + solēre to be accustomed

Derived forms of insolent

insolence, noun
insolently, adverb

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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