insolent

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adjective in·so·lent \ˈin(t)-s(ə-)lənt\

Definition of insolent

1 : insultingly contemptuous in speech or conduct : overbearing
2 : exhibiting boldness or effrontery : impudent

insolent

noun

insolently

adverb

See insolent defined for English-language learners

See insolent defined for kids

Examples of insolent in a Sentence

… the tempos were all-out fast and the tone was flat-out insolent. To some, rock-and-roll was as threatening as Communism and desegregation. —Margo Jefferson, New York Times, 26 Oct. 1994
Sweating, cursing the whole Mickey Mouse operation, they paced themselves with their own insolent complaints while the foreman cursed loudest … —Jayne Anne Phillips, Granta, Spring 1991
They could go days without food or water; they could withstand burning heat … ; and if they were horribly cruel to their captives, they could themselves accept torture with insolent defiance. —James A. Michener, Texas, 1985
Insolent behavior will not be tolerated.
an appallingly insolent reply to a reasonable request

Recent Examples of insolent from the Web

Lauren Bacall, 19 and insolent, giving Humphrey Bogart a lesson on how to whistle in To Have and Have Not.

— lili anolik, VanityFair.com, "Warren Beatty, Pauline Kael, and an Epic Hollywood Mistake", 19 June 2017
Elementary teachers: Wait until sweet, adorable Chuck comes to school after learning that his parents are getting divorced and becomes, for six hours a day for the rest of the year, moody, insolent and a third grade terror.

— valerie strauss, Washington Post, "Commencement speaker warns graduates: ‘You are entering a low social esteem, often thankless, profession’", 5 June 2017
Horn calls peaked the enormous tutti crescendos, and Till approached his somber end with an insolent whistle from clarinet.

— by libby hanssen, kansascity.com, "Summertime energy: Pianist Emanuel Ax performs with Kansas City Symphony at Helzberg", 3 June 2017
On the surface, Hyun-su is an insolent young punk trying to pick a fight with anybody who crosses his path.

— stephen dalton, The Hollywood Reporter, "'The Merciless' ('Bulhandang'): Film Review | Cannes 2017", 25 May 2017
In 1778, a posthumous biography chastised the late Samuel Johnson for his bad bedside reading habits, characterizing the British writer as an insolent child.

— nika mavrody, The Atlantic, "The Dangers of Reading in Bed", 19 May 2017
Lauren Bacall, 19 and insolent, giving Humphrey Bogart a lesson on how to whistle in To Have and Have Not.

— vanityfair.com, VanityFair.com, "Warren Beatty, Pauline Kael, and an Epic Hollywood Mistake", 7 Feb. 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'insolent'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of insolent

Middle English, from Latin insolent-, insolens unaccustomed, overbearing, from in- + solens, present participle of solēre to be accustomed; perhaps akin to Latin sodalis comrade — more at sib

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First Known Use: 14th century

See Words from the same year

Synonym Discussion of insolent

proud, arrogant, haughty, lordly, insolent, overbearing, supercilious, disdainful mean showing scorn for inferiors. proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness. too proud to take charity arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted. a conceited and arrogant executive haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position. a haughty aristocrat lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power. a lordly condescension insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness. ignored by an insolent waiter overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence. an overbearing supervisor supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness. an aloof and supercilious manner disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness. disdainful of their social inferiors