insult

Meaning

1. To be insensitive, insolent, or rude to (somebody); to affront or demean (someone).
2. (obsolete) To assail, assault, or attack; (specifically, military) to carry out an assault, attack, or onset without preparation.
3. (obsolete) To behave in an obnoxious and superior manner (against or over someone).
4. (obsolete) To leap or trample upon.

abuse

affront

disparage

mock at

evil speaking

hurt feelings

abuse verbally

treat with disrespect

scoff at

swear at

criticise character

denounce

encroach upon

make fun

do something wrong

hold in contempt

make mistake

make suffer

speak evil

swear v; insult]

abusive language

hurt one’s feelings

heartsore

put-down

bring misfortune

verbal abuse

bring disgrace upon

view with contempt

cerebrovascular accident

scurrilous language

treat with indignity

treating with disrespect

libel Scoff

offense offence

Frequency

Hyphenated as

in‧sult

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ɪnˈsʌlt/

The verb is derived from Middle French insulter (modern French insulter (“to insult”)) or its etymon Latin īnsultāre, present active infinitive of īnsultō (“to spring, leap or jump at or upon; to abuse, insult, revile, taunt”), the frequentative form of īnsiliō (“to bound; to leap in or upon”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + saliō (“to bound, jump, leap; to spring forth; to flow down”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“to spring”)). The noun is derived from Middle French insult (modern French insulte (“insult”)) or its etymon Late Latin insultus (“insult, reviling, scoffing”), from īnsiliō (“to bound; to leap in or upon”); see above.