insult

[in-suhlt, in-suhlt]

verb (used with object)

1. to treat or speak to insolently or with contemptuous rudeness; affront.

   Synonyms: abuse, injure, scorn, offend
   Antonyms: compliment

2. to affect as an affront; offend or demean.

3. Archaic.,  to attack; assault.

verb (used without object)

1. Archaic.,  to behave with insolent triumph; exult contemptuously (usually followed by on, upon, orover ).

noun

1. an insolent or contemptuously rude action or remark; affront.

   Synonyms: outrage, offense
   Antonyms: compliment

2. something having the effect of an affront.

   That book is an insult to one's intelligence.

3. Medicine/Medical.

   1. an injury or trauma.

   2. an agent that inflicts this.

4. Archaic.,  an attack or assault.

insult

verb

1. to treat, mention, or speak to rudely; offend; affront

2. obsolete,  to assault; attack

noun

1. an offensive or contemptuous remark or action; affront; slight

2. a person or thing producing the effect of an affront

   some television is an insult to intelligence

3. med an injury or trauma

4. to make an unfair or unacceptable situation even worse

Other Word Forms

• insultable adjective
• insulter noun
• preinsult verb (used with object)
• quasi-insulted adjective
• uninsultable adjective
• uninsulted adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insult¹

First recorded in 1560–70; from Latin insultāre “to jump on, insult,” equivalent to in- in- ² + -sultāre, combining form of saltāre “to jump”; saltant

Word History and Origins

Origin of insult¹

C16: from Latin insultāre to jump upon, from _in- ² + saltāre to jump

Idioms and Phrases

see add insult to injury.

Synonym Study

Insult, indignity, affront, slight imply an act that injures another's honor, self-respect, etc. Insult implies such insolence of speech or manner as deeply humiliates or wounds one's feelings and arouses to anger. Indignity is especially used of inconsiderate, contemptuous treatment toward one entitled to respect. Affront implies open disrespect or offense shown, as it were, to the face. Slight may imply inadvertent indifference or disregard, which may also indicate ill-concealed contempt.

Example Sentences

Southern humor sometimes you got to sit back and go, did she just insult me?

Read more on Los Angeles Times

To add insult, in the bottom of the seventh, Edman ruined a rally for the second time in the game by grounding into a double play.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"The minister and his colleagues setting off on this junket just as the Education Authority revealed a £300m black hole in its budget adds further insult to injury."

Read more on BBC

“Milei wore a suit instead of a leather jacket and didn’t insult the moderates in Congress,” Stock summarizes.

Read more on Barron's

In 2024, a convenience store chain sparked an outcry for selling socks printed with the word "Allah" – the Arabic word for God – which many Muslims saw as an insult to Islam.

Read more on BBC

Related Words

• abuse 
• affront 
• blasphemy 
• contempt 
• disgrace 
• disrespect 
• indignity 
• invective 
• libel 
• outrage 
• put-down 
• scorn 
• shame 
• slander 
• slap 
• slight 
• snub 
• taunt 

When To Use

What is an insult?

An insult is a rude action or remark meant to harm someone’s reputation or hurt their feelings. Insults come in many forms, often attacking the mental or physical characteristics of someone or something. To insult someone is to offend or demean them, as by making harmful remarks.An insult is also something that has the effect of a harmful remark. For example, you could say that your father telling you how to do something that you know how to do is an insult to your intelligence, even though your father was trying to be helpful rather than insulting. You can feel insulted without someone intentionally being rude because feelings are unplanned reactions, meaning some people find it best to think about whether the insult was intended or not. Insults are sometimes exchanged lightheartedly among friends just for fun.Example: How dare she insult me like that on such an important day!