insulting

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adjective

in·​sult·​ing in-ˈsəl-tiŋ How to pronounce insulting (audio)
: giving or intended to give offense : being or containing an insult (see insult entry 2 sense 1)
Without the wit, of course, such sentiments would be construed as deeply insultingThe American Scholar
… pasted insulting bumper stickers on their vehicles …James A. Michener
… considered the proposal so impracticable as to be insulting.Alice Adams
The book is "dumbed down" to an almost insulting level.Joel Bangilan
insultingly adverb
But always his triumphs are the triumphs of a highly sensitive man: a man must feel insults before he can so insultingly and splendidly avenge them. G. K. Chesterton
He is a gifted preacher, fashioning sermons that are neither inaccessibly erudite nor insultingly shallow. Kevin Sack

insulting

2 of 2

present participle of insult entry 1

Examples of insulting in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Adjective
Conversations revealed an ongoing dialogue that was not only deeply insulting to Read, but morally offensive to women broadly. Gemma Allen, Forbes.com, 25 June 2025 Trump’s orders are insulting to state and local officials, but especially to the Marines. Tom Zirpoli, Baltimore Sun, 17 June 2025 And to see the Russians playing a key role in the European Parliament is insulting to us and our struggle. Isabel Van Brugen, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 To make matters worse for the 46-year-old politician, the Toronto superstar shared his insulting message on his Instagram story. Armon Sadler, VIBE.com, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for insulting

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

circa 1616, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of insulting was circa 1616

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Cite this Entry

“Insulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insulting. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.

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