insult

[ verb in-suhlt; noun in-suhlt ]

See synonyms for: insult insulted insulting insults on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object)

to treat or speak to insolently or with contemptuous rudeness; affront.
to affect as an affront; offend or demean.

Archaic. to attack; assault.

verb (used without object)

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

noun

an insolent or contemptuously rude action or remark; affront.
something having the effect of an affront: That book is an insult to one's intelligence.

Medicine/Medical.
- an injury or trauma.
- an agent that inflicts this.
Archaic. an attack or assault.

Origin of insult

First recorded in1560–70; from Latin insultāre “to jump on, insult,” equivalent to in- in-² + -sultāre, combining form of saltāre “to jump”; see saltant

synonym study For insult

5. 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.

Other words for insult

1	offend, scorn, injure, abuse
5	offense, outrage

See synonyms for insult on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for insult

1, 5	compliment

See antonyms for insult on Thesaurus.com

Other words from insult

in·sult·a·ble, adjective
in·sult·er, noun
pre·in·sult, verb (used with object)
qua·si-in·sult·ed, adjective
un·in·sult·a·ble, adjective
un·in·sult·ed, adjective

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

How to use insult in a sentence

We have become a society and a nation of echo chambers, where we gather with fellow like-minded people while making assumptions and hurling insults at “others.”
How Christians should react to the 2020 election results | jakemeth | November 12, 2020 | Fortune
About how they spoke nicely to him at first, even asking about his medals, before spitting insults at him.
Behind a national memorial for Native American veterans, stories of slow loss, swift change and boots two sizes too big | Theresa Vargas | November 11, 2020 | Washington Post
We need to take our politics seriously enough to not be distracted by people’s petty, illegitimate insults and remember that we’re actually fighting for our lives.
What the public is getting right — and wrong — about police abolition | Fabiola Cineas | October 30, 2020 | Vox
Like most humans, Monroe recalled the insult sooner than the compliment.
Four presidents who put Virginia’s stamp on early America | Andrew Burstein | October 30, 2020 | Washington Post
So it’s a compounding of perceived insults to democratic ideals.
The system is ‘rigged’: Robert Reich on the Supreme Court, economic inequality, and his Twitter beef with Elon Musk | reymashayekhi | October 12, 2020 | Fortune

The two sides taunted and insulted each other but with police separating them no violence broke out.
NYC’s Garner Protesters vs. Pro-Cop Protesters | Jacob Siegel | December 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The common denominator in the most violent protests against Western actions has been when Islam had been insulted.
Why the Muslim World Isn’t Flipping Out Over the CIA Torture Report | Dean Obeidallah | December 12, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He says the speaker insulted his wife, and most of the charges, including assault on a police officer, were eventually dropped.
Welcome to Assadville, USA | Christopher Moraff | November 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And I thought it was time to write in defense of lobbyists, the people who actually are being insulted.
Up to a Point: In Defense of Lobbyists | P. J. O’Rourke | October 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He insulted a female poet of his acquaintance by remarking “that she and her family were Jews.”
Borges Had A Genius For Literature But Not Love Or Much Else | Allen Barra | October 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Condillac after the marquis's death had refused to pay tithes to Mother Church and has flouted and insulted the Bishop.
St. Martin's Summer | Rafael Sabatini
I have not heard of a case of any one being personally insulted by an Austrian since I have been in Italy.
Glances at Europe | Horace Greeley
"You don't seem to know how to take me," said a vulgar fellow to a gentleman he had insulted.
The Book of Anecdotes and Budget of Fun; | Various
Americans were frequently insulted, called cowards, and openly menaced by the insurgents.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
Luna rushed down the stairs in a furious rage and insulted Captain Janolino in the presence of his troops.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman

British Dictionary definitions for insult

insult

verb(ɪnˈsʌlt) (tr)

to treat, mention, or speak to rudely; offend; affront
obsolete to assault; attack

noun(ˈɪnsʌlt)

an offensive or contemptuous remark or action; affront; slight
a person or thing producing the effect of an affront: some television is an insult to intelligence

med an injury or trauma
add insult to injury to make an unfair or unacceptable situation even worse

Origin of insult

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

Derived forms of insult

insulter, noun

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with insult

insult

see add insult to injury.

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