insolent

[ in-suh-luhnt ]
See synonyms for: insolentinsolentsinsolently on Thesaurus.com

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

noun
  1. an insolent person.

Origin of insolent

1
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

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

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How to use insolent in a sentence

  • 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.

  • Aristide for the first time abandoned his lazy and insolent attitude and jumped to his feet.

British Dictionary definitions for insolent

insolent

/ (ˈɪnsələnt) /


adjective
  1. offensive, impudent, or disrespectful

Origin of insolent

1
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