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
Adjective
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
  • In Shea Carney's house, those beverage bottles and cans eligible for a 10-cent deposit return have become more of a nuisance than a useful income boost.
    Keith Matheny, Freep.com, 30 Oct. 2025
  • South Milwaukee requires exotic or wild animal owners to get a permit from the City Health Department, which can be denied if the animal poses a danger or nuisance.
    Quinn Clark, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Given the nature of debate around the use of AI in production, the note seems a wise one.
    Stewart Clarke, Deadline, 4 Nov. 2025
  • This wise, gentle character had been inhabited and portrayed by such eminent people.
    Jordan Moreau, Variety, 4 Nov. 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
  • That brazen theft met with a scattering of protests that were quickly put down.
    Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Two more suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the brazen daytime heist of Paris’ Louvre Museum, prosecutors say.
    Karissa Waddick, USA Today, 2 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • With more than two dozen varieties, from mushroom Swiss to jalapeño cheddar, there’s a brat for just about every taste.
    Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Oct. 2025
  • According to his obituary, Funkhouser was born an Air Force brat in Michigan and played football in high school.
    David Chiu, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • But his subtle brush-off of Collins is a sign of the cocky and brash kid already beginning to emerge — the same one who could cut down people down to size on his way to redefining himself and jolting both the New York folk scene and the world of pop at large.
    David Browne, Rolling Stone, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Don’t come on too hard or cocky; give practical reasons that showcase how your experience will benefit the company.
    Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • That’s a bold way for a singer who hasn’t been known primarily for being in the theater arena that long to start off with — maybe too bold, in declaring that Streisand’s turf is her terra firma, too.
    Chris Willman, Variety, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Trading for Tucker ahead of his walk year was a bold action.
    Patrick Mooney, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Insolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insolent. Accessed 6 Nov. 2025.

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