insult 1 of 2

insult

2 of 2

verb

Synonym Chooser

How is the word insult distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of insult are affront, offend, and outrage. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When might affront be a better fit than insult?

The synonyms affront and insult are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

When would offend be a good substitute for insult?

The words offend and insult are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Where would outrage be a reasonable alternative to insult?

The words outrage and insult can be used in similar contexts, but outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

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 insult
Noun
The platform monitored students’ conversations for derogatory insults and offered fact-checking in real time. Tyler Kingkade, NBC news, 28 Aug. 2025 Alternating between insult and reward enables a gaslighter to create an environment where employees are always unsure about how their actions will be received. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2025
Verb
In 2021, Lauryn Licari received text messages from an unknown number that were insulting and threatening her relationship with her boyfriend at the time, Owen. Lea Veloso, StyleCaster, 2 Sep. 2025 There could be more turmoil ahead Trump has personally insulted Powell for months, but his administration now appears much more focused on the Fed’s broader structure. Christopher Rugaber, Chicago Tribune, 31 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insult
Verb
  • Others were offended by the variety of items in the dish.
    Michael Nied, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
  • Of community referrals, 81% did not offend at all.
    Everett Eaton, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • Advertisement That theme, submerged beneath chaos and sarcasm, surfaces in these interludes.
    JP Mangalindan, Time, 28 Aug. 2025
  • Podolner was also asked to tone down or stop his use of humor or sarcasm to build rapport with students.
    Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 26 Aug. 2025
Verb
  • If that fact alone doesn’t outrage you, consider what this disregard of constitutional rights means for you.
    Agustina Vergara Cid, Oc Register, 5 Sep. 2025
  • Arriving in America, Ann and her followers are outraged by their first sight of a slave auction.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 4 Sep. 2025
Noun
  • To add to the indignity, Tom Brady now has a statue outside Gillette Stadium and, in his role as a minority owner of the Raiders, a 1-0 boardroom record against the Patriots.
    Steve Buckley, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2025
  • In some states, the oppression and the indignities around reproductive health extends beyond menstruation to birth.
    Maia Niguel Hoskin, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insult. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on insult

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!