insult
ihn-SUHLT
Insult (verb) means to say or do something rude or disrespectful to someone. Example: “Don't insult your little brother just because he lost the game.”
verb
1
To say or do something rude or disrespectful to someone.
"Don't insult your little brother just because he lost the game."
"The customer insulted the waiter, who calmly asked him to leave."
"He insulted her cooking in front of all the guests."
noun
1
A rude remark or action meant to offend someone.
"Calling the team lazy was an unfair insult, since they had worked all night."
"She ignored the insult and kept walking."
"The low pay felt like an insult after all his hard work."
How to use insult
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA deliberately offensive comment or action, or the act of making one.
Common pairings
throw an insult
take it as an insult
insult someone's intelligence
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Word forms
- Plural
- insults
- Third person singular
- insults
- Past tense
- insulted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Don't _____ your little brother just because he lost the game.
Etymology
From Latin insultare, "to leap or spring upon; to taunt," the frequentative form of insilire ("to leap upon"), from in- + salire ("to jump").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “insult” mean?
The word “insult” means to say or do something rude or disrespectful to someone. In plain terms, a deliberately offensive comment or action, or the act of making one.
How do you pronounce “insult”?
“Insult” is pronounced ihn-SUHLT (/ɪnˈsʌlt/ in IPA).
How do you use “insult” in a sentence?
Here is “insult” used in a sentence: “He insulted her cooking in front of all the guests.”
What part of speech is “insult”?
Depending on how it is used, “insult” can be a verb and a noun.
Where does the word “insult” come from?
The word “insult” comes from Latin. From Latin insultare, "to leap or spring upon; to taunt," the frequentative form of insilire ("to leap upon"), from in- + salire ("to jump").
Is “insult” a common word?
“Insult” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “insult” have?
“Insult” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to say or do something rude or disrespectful to someone.
What is the difference between insult and offend?
To 'insult' is to deliberately say or do something rude or disrespectful to someone, while to 'offend' is to cause someone to feel hurt or upset, which can happen even unintentionally. Every insult can offend, but you can offend without meaning to insult.
What is the difference between an insult and criticism?
An insult is a rude remark meant to offend a person, while criticism is a judgment about someone's work or ideas and can be constructive. Criticism targets the work; an insult targets the person.
What adjectives commonly describe an insult?
Common collocations include 'personal insult', 'deliberate insult', 'grave insult', and 'veiled insult'. These pairings describe how pointed or serious the offense is.
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