[go: up one dir, main page]

insult 1 of 2

Definition of insultnext

insult

2 of 2

verb

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
Lauren Witzke, a QAnon activist and former Republican Senate candidate in Delaware who attended Turning Point USA’s recent AmericaFest gathering, has repeatedly slung personal insults at Fine. Andrew Lapin, Sun Sentinel, 5 Jan. 2026 Minutes after the Denver Broncos secured the AFC’s top seed Sunday, my old college roommate, a huge fan of the team dating to the Orange Crush days, sent a text that sounded like an insult but actually reflected what could be one of the most fun playoff fields in memory. Mike Sando, New York Times, 5 Jan. 2026
Verb
The paddling comes as revenge for multiple times Marty insults the businessman throughout the movie. Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025 Never meet your heroes — but more importantly, never insult them on live TV. Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 26 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insult
Noun
  • The video, narrated with dry sarcasm and visible exhaustion, quickly went viral.
    Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 8 Jan. 2026
  • With her signature deadpan sarcasm and round glasses, Daria critiqued suburban life and the insanity of high school popularity contests with wit and honesty.
    Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 30 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • No, absolutely not, what does offend me, though, is having the poppy try be forced upon me.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • When no one in the Fortune 500 wants to risk offending Trump, leave it to Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog to take care of business.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Her death sparked outrage across the country.
    Ryan Oehrli January 6, Charlotte Observer, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Several Democrats in the state privately cautioned Walz against seeking reelection as outrage intensified in Minnesota and beyond over the misuse of funds.
    Danya Gainor, CNN Money, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • The biggest indignity of all, though?
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Perhaps this move will head off that particular indignity.
    Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Edmundson, who had a goal disallowed earlier, found a loose puck and cranked a slap shot.
    Andrew Knoll, Daily News, 8 Jan. 2026
  • The friendship developed during rehearsals, and then a confrontation in the film between their characters culminated in a slap.
    Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 6 Jan. 2026
Noun
  • This is an affront to human dignity and that’s incredibly terrifying.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • This was quite an affront to the members of De Stijl who believed otherwise.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Just a few days earlier in California, a house that had been decorated with lights celebrating Chanukah was riddled with bullets, with the assailant having been heard to yell anti-Jewish epithets.
    Rabbi Steve Roth, Sun Sentinel, 6 Jan. 2026
  • The doc has also earned the ire of Chase’s former Community co-star Yvette Nicole Brown, who firmly distanced herself from it and all attempts to reinvestigate Chase’s firing from the show amid accusations of hurling racial epithets.
    Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 30 Dec. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insult. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on insult

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!