adjective

insolent

IHN-suh-luhnt

Insolent (adjective) means Rude and disrespectful, especially in a bold or arrogant way, particularly toward authority. Example: “The insolent teenager rolled his eyes at every instruction.”

adjective

Rude and disrespectful, especially in a bold or arrogant way, particularly toward authority.

"The insolent teenager rolled his eyes at every instruction."

"She gave an insolent reply that made her boss furious."

How to use insolent

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishBoldly disrespectful, especially to someone who deserves better treatment.

Common pairings

insolent remark insolent behavior

Word forms

more insolent comparative, insolents plural, most insolent superlative

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.

Test yourself on “insolent” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The _____ teenager rolled his eyes at every instruction.

Etymology

From Old French, from Latin insolens ("unaccustomed, arrogant"), from in- + solere ("to be accustomed").

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for insolent

violent indolent benevolent malevolent

See all rhymes for insolent →

Frequently asked questions

What does “insolent” mean?

The word “insolent” means rude and disrespectful, especially in a bold or arrogant way, particularly toward authority. In plain terms, boldly disrespectful, especially to someone who deserves better treatment.

How do you pronounce “insolent”?

“Insolent” is pronounced IHN-suh-luhnt (/ˈɪn.sə.lənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “insolent” in a sentence?

Here is “insolent” used in a sentence: “The insolent teenager rolled his eyes at every instruction.”

What part of speech is “insolent”?

“Insolent” is an adjective.

Where does the word “insolent” come from?

The word “insolent” comes from Latin. From Old French, from Latin insolens ("unaccustomed, arrogant"), from in- + solere ("to be accustomed").