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insult Definition

in·sult (in sult′; for n. in′sult′)

transitive verb

  1. 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
  2. Obsolete to attack; assail

Etymology: MFr insulter < L insultare, to leap upon, scoff at, insult < in-, in, on + saltare, freq. of salire, to leap: see salient

intransitive verb

Archaic to behave arrogantly

noun

  1. an insulting act, remark, etc.; affront; indignity
  2. Archaic an attack; assault
  3. Med.
    1. damage or injury to tissues or organs of the body
    2. anything that causes this

insult Related Forms

in·sult′er noun in·sult′·ing adjective in·sult′·ingly adverb

insult Synonyms

insult

n.

indignity, offense, affront, abuse, contumely, ill treatment, scurrility, opprobrium, outrage, vilification, incivility, impudence, insolence, blasphemy, mockery, derision, impertinence, discourtesy, invective, slight, snub, ignominy, disrespect, slander, libel, name-calling, taunt, gibe, slap in the face*, put-down*, dig*, black eye*; see also curse 1, rudeness.

Antonyms praise*, tribute*, homage.

insult Synonyms

insult

v.

affront, revile, vilify, libel, offend, outrage, abuse, humiliate, mock, vex, tease, call names, irritate, annoy, aggravate, provoke, deride, taunt, laugh down, ridicule, gibe at, jeer, slight, demean, underestimate, take a slap at*, step on one's toes*, rank out*; see also offend, slander.

Insulting remarks include: nuts, nerts, says you, go jump in the lake, in my eye, don't make me laugh, shut your face, shut up, so's your old man, you're crazy, baloney, bull, nuts to you, in a pig's eye, up yours, horse manure, tell it to the marines, my foot, my eye, does your mother know you're out?, another country heard from, drop dead, stuff it, stick it, read my lips, go suck eggs, go to hell, go pound salt, go pound sand, stick it where the sun don't shine, stick it in your ear, you know where you can stick it.

Antonyms praise*, extol*, glorify. See syn. study at offend.offend.

insult Usage Examples

Object

  • contributor: Try and keep on topic if you can and no insulting the contributors.
  • prophet: Scores waved placards bearing angry messages, one declaring: " Behead the one who insults the prophet " .
  • intelligence: RUBBISH A Customer from England, 30th November, 2004 Please do not insult the intelligence of women.
  • anyone: It was not my intention to insult anyone or break any rules.

Converse of object

  • hurl: May you find the response to an insult hurled at you in a dispute.
  • avenge: When the husband Mehmet returned from military service he is said to have threatened dire action to avenge the insult to his wife.
  • shout: It spends its days shouting insults at me through the bars of its cage.
  • add: To add insult to injury, the scheme is proving a recipe for windfall profits.
  • throw: The very names that were coined to describe their efforts started as insults thrown at them by the critics of the time.
  • suffer: The Kitchen Bar however will suffer the ultimate insult, swallowed up to reappear in the bowels of the Victoria Square.

Adjective modifier

  • gratuitous: The audience, carefully selected to be hostile, offered a series of gratuitous insults to the Prime Minister.
  • calculated: The way the editor chose to report the results of the special congress was a calculated insult.
  • homophobic: Witnesses reported hearing the attackers shout homophobic insults at Mr Dobrowski.
  • gross: It was a gross insult to the competitors every single one of them.
  • deliberate: In fact, the picture painted of him here amounts to a deliberate insult.
  • petty: When the opposition has to resort to petty insults, you know they're on the defensive.

Modifying Another Word

  • no: Try and keep on topic if you can and no insulting the contributors.
  • personally: Is Ken Livingstone going to personally insult all 55 Ambassadors and their countries?

Noun used with modifier

  • trading: By now Alan, Gordon and Virgil were indulging in a round of pushing and shoving each other whilst trading insults.
  • welfare: Question 2: How could large poultry flocks be killed to minimize welfare insult to the birds whilst achieving the aim of rapid killing?