insult 1 of 2

noun

ˈin-ˌsəlt How to pronounce insult (audio)
Definition of insultnext
Enter your own sentence containing insult , and get words to replace it.
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as in offence
an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings panelists on that political talk show simply exchange insults, not ideas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

insult

2 of 2

verb

in-ˈsəlt How to pronounce insult (audio)
as in to offend
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word insult distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of insult are affront, offend, and outrage. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When might affront be a better fit than insult?

The synonyms affront and insult are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

When would offend be a good substitute for insult?

The words offend and insult are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, 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

Where would outrage be a reasonable alternative to insult?

The words outrage and insult can be used in similar contexts, but outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of insult
Noun
His tenure has seen City Council meetings derailed by aldermen openly defying him or angry constituents shouting insults at his leadership abilities, often over his decision to house and feed asylum-seekers with taxpayer resources. — Daniel C. Vock, Chicago Tribune, 2 Mar. 2025 But according to his younger brother, Zac didn’t mind the insult. — Dana Rose Falcone, People.com, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
The excuses emanating from the fifth floor and from Johnson’s City Council allies range from unconvincing to insulting. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2025 No one insulted themselves out of the blue for no reason. — Heather Havrilesky, New York Times, 22 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insult
  1. offend
  2. sarcasm
  3. outrage
  4. indignity
Verb
  • When Davis asked if she was offended by his desire to keep things lowkey, Taylor laughed it off.
    — EW.com, EW.com, 17 Mar. 2025
  • The father, who everyone thinks will be offended by a guest’s outburst at the Sabbath table, laughs in delight.
    — Judith Shulevitz, The Atlantic, 16 Mar. 2025
Definition of offend
Noun
  • With her previous roles in Blockers and Drive-Away Dolls, Viswanathan is a studio comedy pro at this point, injecting her trademark sarcasm and deadpan stare whenever necessary.
    — Jourdain Searles, The Hollywood Reporter, 29 Jan. 2025
  • At a dinner party in Cairo, the Egyptian capital, a guest speaks with dark sarcasm of the singular achievements of Yahya Sinwar, the Hamas mastermind behind the horrendous Oct. 7, 2023, attack that sparked the current conflagration (an Israeli drone killed Sinwar a year later).
    — Max Rodenbeck, TIME, 17 Jan. 2025
Definition of sarcasm
Verb
  • His move outraged many in the party who want to fight the Trump agenda, but gave senators room to side with Republicans and allow the continuing resolution, often described as a CR, to advance.
    — Kevin Freking, Twin Cities, 14 Mar. 2025
  • His move outraged many in the party who want to fight the Trump agenda, but gives senators room to side with Republicans and allow the continuing resolution, often described as a CR, to advance.
    — Kevin Freking, Chicago Tribune, 14 Mar. 2025
Definition of outrage
Noun
  • Perhaps the lack of living or once-living violations — flies, rodents, roaches, dead roaches — spared this West Miami-Dade location the indignity and profit loss of being closed by inspection.
    — David J. Neal, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The indignities continued even after McDaniel’s death in 1952.
    — Jordan Runtagh, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025
Definition of indignity

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Cite this Entry

“Insult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insult. Accessed 21 Mar. 2025.

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