insult

1 of 2

verb

in·​sult in-ˈsəlt How to pronounce insult (audio)
insulted; insulting; insults

transitive verb

: to treat with insolence, indignity, or contempt : affront
also : to affect offensively or damagingly
doggerel that insults the reader's intelligence

intransitive verb

archaic : to behave with pride or arrogance : vaunt
insulter noun

insult

2 of 2

noun

in·​sult ˈin-ˌsəlt How to pronounce insult (audio)
1
: a gross indignity : an instance of insolent or contemptuous speech or conduct
2
: injury to the body or one of its parts
also : something that causes or has a potential for causing such injury
pollution and other environmental insults
Choose the Right Synonym for insult

offend, outrage, affront, insult mean to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment.

offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

Examples of insult in a Sentence

Verb She felt they had insulted her by repeatedly ignoring her questions. We were greatly insulted by his rudeness. They're understandably insulted when no one asks for their opinion on a matter that affects them so much. Noun The fans hurled insults at the referee as he walked off the field after the game. Their decision to cancel the project was an insult to all my hard work. They got into a fight over a minor insult.
Recent Examples on the Web
Verb
The Cassirer family, their attorneys and Jewish organizations say those arguments have not only been rejected by the courts, but are insulting — trading on the dangerous stereotype of Jewish greed by suggesting the family is looking to be paid twice. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2024 While other bricks are engraved with the names of families and tributes — part of a fundraiser for the Athenaeum Foundation — this one insults cheese. The Indianapolis Star, 29 Feb. 2024 After Trump publicly insulted LeBron James, Rogers highlights, Melania had her press secretary, Stephanie Grisham, issue a statement that praised the basketball player. Virginia Chamlee, Peoplemag, 27 Feb. 2024 Adding injury to insult, the 7,000 lb. sculpture was damaged when a contractor attempted to move it during construction of the Fairmont Hotel in the mid-’80s and wound up being scrapped. Sal Pizarro, The Mercury News, 24 Feb. 2024 All throughout, McNamara and his texting partners liberally use the N-word to refer to each other and Black people and also make multiple homophobic and misogynistic comments and at least one remark insulting Asian people. Robert Salonga, The Mercury News, 20 Feb. 2024 Then from there, attribute a motive for his choice that is the least personal, least insulting and absolute least reflection on your daughter (or you). Carolyn Hax, Washington Post, 18 Feb. 2024 Donald Trump is again attacking and insulting military families. David Jackson, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024 Adding injury to insult, Purdy exited with eight minutes left after a shoulder stinger that shot pain similar to the last game. Cam Inman, The Mercury News, 10 Feb. 2024
Noun
Trump’s personal insults of McConnell and McConnell’s wife aside — McConnell knows that Trump is sympathetic to Putin and hostile to Ukraine. Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 7 Mar. 2024 In a final insult, Washington guard Sahvir Wheeler banked in a three-pointer at the end of the shot clock from about 40 feet out with less than a minute to play. Ben Bolch, Los Angeles Times, 1 Mar. 2024 Laws punishing insults to religious feelings have been expanded, and Orthodox Christian values returned to school curricula. Ahmet T. Kuru, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2024 Friendly queries unanswered turned into follow-up insults. Talia Jane, Rolling Stone, 29 Feb. 2024 Faith in Florida leaders viewed the bill as an attack on the access to Black history in Florida schools and an insult to professional educators. Lauren Costantino, Miami Herald, 29 Feb. 2024 Emily Tuttle, a spokeswoman for Mr. Bragg, called Ms. Mitchell’s statement a grave insult. Chelsia Rose Marcius, New York Times, 21 Feb. 2024 His subsequent 30-minute appearance in a friendly match days later against Vissel Kobe in Japan only further angered Chinese fans, with many – including pro-Beijing politicians in Hong Kong – likening it to an insult to China. Chris Lau, CNN, 10 Feb. 2024 But Palestinians saw the document’s silence as an insult. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 23 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'insult.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle French or Latin; Middle French insulter, from Latin insultare, literally, to spring upon, from in- + saltare to leap — more at saltation

First Known Use

Verb

1540, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Noun

1671, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of insult was in 1540

Dictionary Entries Near insult

Cite this Entry

“Insult.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insult. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

insult

1 of 2 verb
in·​sult in-ˈsəlt How to pronounce insult (audio)
: to treat or speak to with disrespect or scorn
insulter noun

insult

2 of 2 noun
in·​sult ˈin-ˌsəlt How to pronounce insult (audio)
: an act or expression showing disrespect or scorn
Etymology

Verb

from early French insulter "to insult," from Latin insultare "to insult, attack," literally "to leap upon," derived from in- "on, upon" and salire "to leap, spring" — related to assault, resilient

Word Origin
The phrase "to jump on" is used informally today to mean "to criticize or insult severely." The origin of the word insult also suggests the idea of jumping. Insult comes from the Latin verb insultare, literally meaning "to leap upon." It is made up of the prefix in-, meaning "on, upon," and a form of the verb salire "to leap." One of the first meanings of insult in English was "to make a military attack." That sense became obsolete, and insult now means to attack or "jump on" someone only with words of scorn or disrespect rather than with weapons.

Medical Definition

insult

noun
in·​sult ˈin-ˌsəlt How to pronounce insult (audio)
1
: injury to the body or one of its parts
repeated acute vascular insults
any insult to the constitution of a patient suffering from active tuberculosisJournal of the American Medical Association
2
: something that causes or has a potential for causing insult to the body
damage resulting from malnutritional insults
insult verb

More from Merriam-Webster on insult

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