insult

IN-sult/ˈɪnsʌlt/

As a verbin-SULT

Pluralinsults (some meanings)

Verbinsults, insulting, insulted

9 meanings of insult

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1
noununcountable
Rude words or behavior meant to hurt someone, or a single rude remark.
Like a slap made of words instead of a hand.
Calling him lazy was a real insult.
The crowd shouted insults at the losing team.
Similaroffense, slur, affront, slight, barb
Oppositecompliment
2
verbtransitive
To say or do something rude that hurts or shames someone.
Don't insult your brother in front of his friends.
She insulted the cook by leaving the food untouched.
Similardisrespect, affront, slander, demean
Oppositecompliment
Note
3
nouncountable
Something so bad or unfair that it makes people feel they are not respected.
That tiny raise was an insult after all her hard work.
Fans called the new ticket prices an insult.
Similardisgrace, outrage
Oppositetribute, compliment, credit
Note
4
nouncountable or uncountable
Something that harms the body or makes it sick, or the harm that it causes.
A baby's brain can often heal after an insult like a lack of oxygen at birth.
Smoking causes slow insult to the lungs over many years.
Similarinjury, damage, trauma, harm
Note

5
nounarchaicfigurativelycountable
An attack, especially a sudden one made without preparing first.
The soldiers took the fort by sudden insult before dawn.
The government was continually expoſed to the inſults of a faction, and deſtitute of the neceſſary reſources.
1784, “From the Accession of James to the English Crown, to the Battle of Kilrush, in the Reign of Charles I”, in The History of IrelandHere, insults means attacks, especially sudden ones.
Note
6
verbobsoletefigurativelytransitive
To attack a place or person suddenly, without preparing first.
Giue me thy knife, I will inſult on him, Flattering my ſelfes, as if it were the Moore, Come hither purpoſely to poyſon me.
c. 1588, William Shakespeare, “The Lamentable Tragedy of Titus Andronicus”Here, insult means to attack someone suddenly.
Not with more madneſs, rolling from afar, / The ſpumy Waves proclaim the watry War. / And mounting upwards, with a mighty Roar, / March onwards, and inſult the rocky ſhoar.
1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”Here, insult means to attack, as waves rush and strike the shore.
Note
7
verbobsoleteintransitive
To act proud and mean toward someone, especially a person you have beaten.
Now with the drops of this moſt balmie time, / My loue lookes freſh, and death to me ſubſcribes, / Since ſpight of him Ile liue in this poore time / While he inſults ore dull and ſpeachleſſe tribes.
1609, William Shakespeare, “Sonnet 107”Here, insults means acts proud and mean over others as if above them.
And doe you ſe how he inſulteth ouer me, as though hee had gotten a great aduantage, and how hee taketh heere his reuenge vpon me, for the ſhipwracke hee ſuffered before, in the matter of his ſyllogyſme?
1609, Robert Persons, “The First Chapter Ansvvering to the First of M. Thomas Mortons Three Vaine Inquiryes, Concerning the Witt, Memorie…Here, insulteth means acts proud and mean toward someone, as if above them.
Note
8
verbobsoleteintransitive
To jump on top of something, or to stamp on it with force.
So looks the pent-vp Lyon o're the Wretch, / That trembles vnder his deuouring Pawes: / And ſo he walkes, inſulting o're his Prey, / And ſo he comes, to rend his Limbes aſunder.
c. 1591, William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt,”Here, insulting means trampling or stepping triumphantly over his prey.
Note
9
nounobsoletecountable
An act of jumping on top of something or someone.
The Bull's Inſult at Four ſhe [the mother cow] may ſuſtain; / But, after Ten, from Nuptial Rites refrain. / Six Seaſons uſe; but then releaſe the Cow, / Unfit for Love, and for the lab'ring Plough.
1697, Virgil, “The Third Book of the Georgics”Here, insult means a jumping on top of something.
Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of insult apart? Answer 4 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

The verb comes from Latin 'insulto', meaning to leap or jump at someone, and also to abuse or taunt. The noun comes from Late Latin 'insultus', meaning an insult or scoffing.