Insult Definition

ĭn-sŭlt
insulted, insulting, insults
verb
insulted, insulting, insults
To treat or speak to with scorn, insolence, or great disrespect; subject to treatment, a remark, etc. that hurts or is meant to hurt the feelings or pride.
Webster's New World
To affront or demean.
An absurd speech that insulted the intelligence of the audience.
American Heritage
To behave arrogantly.
Webster's New World
To attack; assail.
Webster's New World

To offend (someone) by being rude, insensitive or insolent; to demean or affront (someone). [from 17th c.]

Wiktionary
Antonyms:
noun
insults
An insulting act, remark, etc.; affront; indignity.
Webster's New World
An attack; assault.
Webster's New World
Damage or injury to tissues or organs of the body.
Webster's New World
Anything that causes this.
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Insult

Noun

Singular:
insult
Plural:
insults

Origin of Insult

  • French insulter from Old French to assault from Latin īnsultāre to leap at, insult frequentative of īnsilīre to leap upon in- on in–2 salīre to leap sel- in Indo-European roots

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle French insult (noun) and insulter (verb), from Latin insultāre (“to jump at, insult”), ultimately from salīre (“to jump”).

    From Wiktionary

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