as in impudent
displaying or marked by rude boldness
an appallingly insolent reply to a reasonable request
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in nuisance
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
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
Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
One’s insolent, calling him lame and old, and the other affectedly infantile, but both are exhausting in their own way.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
Parthenope is inscrutable yet expressive, insolent yet heroic, magnetic yet unattainable, loving yet selfish.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Dickinson’s Samuel is an intriguing, insolent magnet from the start.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 2024
See All Example Sentences for insolent
Adjective
The movie’s startling originality is in its spirit, its insolent ironies.
—Richard Brody, New Yorker, 30 July 2025
One’s insolent, calling him lame and old, and the other affectedly infantile, but both are exhausting in their own way.
—Keith Phipps, Vulture, 16 Apr. 2025
Parthenope is inscrutable yet expressive, insolent yet heroic, magnetic yet unattainable, loving yet selfish.
—Mike Miller, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025
Dickinson’s Samuel is an intriguing, insolent magnet from the start.
—Michael Phillips, Chicago Tribune, 24 Dec. 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
-
Intentionally obstructing the roadway, especially while impeding emergency access, is a misdemeanor in Minnesota, as is being a public nuisance by blocking the right-of-way.—
Mia Cathell,
The Washington Examiner,
13 Feb. 2026
-
For rulers abroad, the Puerto Rican people were mostly a nuisance to be managed.—
Andrew R. Chow,
Time,
9 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
This show has been so amazing for us, not just friendship-wise and getting so close to each other, but also being a part of something that people love.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
11 Feb. 2026
-
The sad thing is the Dolphins, in a wise effort to build the trenches during the past two years, have used lots of draft capital (left tackle Patrick Paul was a 2024 second-round pick and left guard Jonah Savaiinaea was a 2025 second-round pick) in that area.—
Chris Perkins,
Sun Sentinel,
11 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Insulting this imbecile became the most rewarding pastime on earth.—
Rosa Lyster,
Harpers Magazine,
30 Dec. 2025
-
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
Adjective
-
Or perhaps Raimi is just kicking it back to his more brazen early years as a director.—
David Sims,
The Atlantic,
31 Jan. 2026
-
In a particularly brazen flouting of traffic laws, one Waymo allegedly drove near the students who were disembarking from the bus.—
Frank Landymore,
Futurism,
29 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Atlantic Records executive Tammy (Rosanna Arquette) has signed up in-demand director Johannes (Alexander Skarsgård) to helm Charli’s Amazon concert film, an important cog to making sure brat is forever.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 Feb. 2026
-
Now back on the press circuit promoting The Moment as Charli xcx’s right-hand brat, Skarsgård stayed true to his subversive style by bringing a completely inappropriate, somehow incredibly sexy shoe to Sundance Film Festival.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Bassel stands at the center of the frame, looking cocky and slightly bored, with his parents seated in front of him and his siblings on either side.—
Robert F. Worth,
The Atlantic,
6 Feb. 2026
-
Their roles are reversed when O’Brien’s cocky, young CEO must look to McAdams’ strategic planning and survival know-how to stay alive.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But his Rainbow Coalition, a bold alliance of Blacks, Whites, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans and LGBTQ people, helped pave the way for a more progressive Democratic Party.—
John Blake,
CNN Money,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The movies that would be honored here, by contrast, were bolder than the Spirits usually go, resulting in a truly independent raft of winners.—
Film Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
16 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insolent. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
