insolent

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective insolent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of insolent are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, lordly, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When could arrogant be used to replace insolent?

The synonyms arrogant and insolent are sometimes interchangeable, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When can disdainful be used instead of insolent?

The words disdainful and insolent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When might haughty be a better fit than insolent?

While the synonyms haughty and insolent are close in meaning, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

When is lordly a more appropriate choice than insolent?

While in some cases nearly identical to insolent, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

In what contexts can overbearing take the place of insolent?

The meanings of overbearing and insolent largely overlap; however, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

Where would proud be a reasonable alternative to insolent?

The words proud and insolent can be used in similar contexts, but proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When would supercilious be a good substitute for insolent?

Although the words supercilious and insolent have much in common, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

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 insolent
Noun
Parthenope is inscrutable yet expressive, insolent yet heroic, magnetic yet unattainable, loving yet selfish. Mike Miller, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025 The officers weren't rude, angry, or insolent — as required of a battery conviction — and used their training and legal authority to do their jobs. Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Dec. 2024 Her subversive and dominating personality, and sometimes insolent rhetoric in her active X presence set her apart from the likes of other female AI chatbots, such as Siri whose aim is to assist and serve. Fatemeh Fannizadeh, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 Bullock’s John Hotham is forced to manage an uprising of rogue military personal and armed insurgents on a semi-fictional January 6, 2025 that makes the real-life January 6, 2021 seem like insolent child’s play. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for insolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insolent
Adjective
  • Gemma reluctantly agrees to rebuild her impudent robot in a new body, and the sequel ends with an explosive showdown between Amelia and M3GAN, who nearly dies in a noble attempt to save Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 June 2025
  • Fortunately, Snow White’s newfound enlightenment does not deny her the possibility of romance, although princes are now strictly off-limits; her love interest here is a fetchingly impudent bandit, Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who is leading a scrappy rebellion against the Evil Queen.
    Justin Chang, The New Yorker, 22 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • According to the California Penal Code, a nuisance can be charged as a misdemeanor.
    Sacbee.com, Sacbee.com, 14 Sep. 2025
  • The recent interference with the European Commission President’s aircraft showed how quickly GPS denial can shift from nuisance to geopolitical signal.
    Kapil Kajal, Interesting Engineering, 11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Either by choice or otherwise, Wolves lost seven players who appeared regularly in the first team last season and brought in six new faces, so numbers-wise, there is little difference.
    Steve Madeley, New York Times, 15 Sep. 2025
  • The measure further reduces offshore drilling, but the effort to compensate in a region that is highly dependent on the oil industry was a wise move.
    The Editorial Board, Oc Register, 15 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Evil is insolent and strong; beauty enchanting but rare; goodness very apt to be weak; folly very apt to be defiant; wickedness to carry the day; imbeciles to be in great places, people of sense in small, and mankind generally unhappy.
    Sam Sacks, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2016
  • Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government.
    Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2016
Adjective
  • While earlier incidents against Jewish sites, coming amid the backlash over the soaring death toll in Israel’s conflict in Gaza, sparked a media frenzy around this particularly act of brazen antisemitism, the pigs’ heads did not have the same effect.
    Saskya Vandoorne, CNN Money, 12 Sep. 2025
  • But in recent years, acts of brazen violence have been the grim drumbeat of a debased national politics.
    Eric Cortellessa, Time, 11 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • After Wisconsin, is Ohio State the second-best brat-eating school in the conference?
    Steven Louis Goldstein, New York Times, 11 Sep. 2025
  • Games will include stein hoisting and a brat toss, plus cornhole.
    Michael Deeds, Idaho Statesman, 9 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Vinnie Barbarino Was a Standout John Travolta’s Vinnie was known for his cocky swagger and flirtatious antics.
    Marc Berman, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
  • Compliments find you with greater ease, too; with Venus, your planetary ruler, now in Leo, your magnetism is louder and your confidence reads as warm, not cocky.
    Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
  • Now, Courtney Brown, an associate professor at Southern Methodist University (SMU), has taken a bold and creative step forward.
    Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 14 Sep. 2025
  • Backstage, hair and makeup looks were designed to echo the avant-garde edge of his collection—a reminder that timeless beauty can be both bold and modern.
    Essence, Essence, 14 Sep. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insolent. Accessed 18 Sep. 2025.

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