insult
to treat or speak to insolently or with contemptuous rudeness; affront.
to affect as an affront; offend or demean.
Archaic. to attack; assault.
Archaic. to behave with insolent triumph; exult contemptuously (usually followed by on, upon, or over).
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
1synonym study For insult
Other words for insult
Opposites for insult
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. 2024
How to use insult in a sentence
Then the sun went down and the anger came back as a “Thank You NYPD” rally traded insults with counter-protestors.
He goes on to claim that these "minor insults" along with the other reveals have no news value.
Exclusive: Aaron Sorkin Thinks Male Film Roles Have Bigger ‘Degree of Difficulty’ Than Female Ones | William Boot | December 15, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIslamists stood next to communists waving Palestinian flags and hurling insults at Israeli officials.
A New Intifada? Israel’s Arab Citizen Uprising Spreads | Creede Newton | November 10, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTYet even as her mother lobbed insults, Melissa was shown looking on, delight and pride in her eyes.
Melissa Rivers: Life After Joan—A Funny, Moving Celebration on a Special 'Fashion Police' | Tim Teeman | September 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTTo a similar degree, I oppose those piling on threats, horrible insults, and so on, at this unknown kid because of one dumb tweet.
And when wine had unselfed my noble father, you received his passionate insults with forbearance and forgiveness!
The Pastor's Fire-side Vol. 3 of 4 | Jane PorterAristide interposed, his Southern being athrob with the insults heaped upon the woman.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol | William J. LockeI endured his insults until the time came when further forbearance would have been a disgrace, and then I closed with him.
The Soldier of the Valley | Nelson LloydOf course the cook sought to counteract such tendencies, but he had to be very circumspect, for Sambo resented insults fiercely.
The Floating Light of the Goodwin Sands | R.M. BallantyneHe was interred the next day amidst execrations and vulgar insults, which he could not feel.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel Munsell
British Dictionary definitions for insult
to treat, mention, or speak to rudely; offend; affront
obsolete to assault; attack
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
1Derived 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
see add insult to injury.
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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