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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishBoldly disrespectful, especially to someone who deserves better treatment.
Common pairings
insolent remark
insolent behavior
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Word forms
- Plural
- insolents
- Comparative
- more insolent
- Superlative
- most insolent
Fill the gap
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The _____ teenager rolled his eyes at every instruction.
Etymology
From Old French, from Latin insolens ("unaccustomed, arrogant"), from in- + solere ("to be accustomed").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for insolent
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").
