insolent
Americanadjective
noun
adjective
Related Words
See impertinent.
Other Word Forms
- insolence noun
- insolently adverb
- overinsolent adjective
- overinsolently adverb
Etymology
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
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.
All would be well for the heroic striver but for the insolent judgments of “editors, curators, connoisseurs, critics, bosses, talent agents, reviewers, etc.”
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 9, 2026
Fans were momentarily disappointed, but nothing could detract from the insolent, messy glory of tracks like Club Classics or Sympathy Is A Knife.
From BBC • Jun. 28, 2025
And El Pachuco, in his high-waisted “drapes” and angled hat, who narrates “Zoot Suit” while occasionally stepping outside the Brechtian Fourth Wall to freeze-fame the action or utter caustic commentary, is its righteously insolent heart.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 2, 2023
In another case, a child was being treated as insolent and lazy for falling asleep in class; Mendez discovered that the child was diabetic, and dealing with chronic exhaustion.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 27, 2023
“Principal Hornstein said we could go to the bathroom,” said Ike with an insolent smile.
From "Shooting Kabul" by N. H. Senzai
Definitions 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.
