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
But in between the cutting insults, the two have had gritty policy debates and have each managed to thoroughly articulate their platforms to New Jersey voters. Molly Parks, The Washington Examiner, 30 Oct. 2025 However, Bieber pointed out that saying that is nowhere near an insult to her. Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 27 Oct. 2025
Verb
Bieber responded by covering the bulge with a blanket, then sharing that people had, in fact, called her trans while trying to insult her physical appearance. Mathew Rodriguez, Them., 27 Oct. 2025 According to Pakistan's blasphemy laws, people who insult Islam or Islamic figures can face a possible death sentence. NPR, 24 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for insult
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insult
Noun
  • Cleveland says narcissists often disguise sarcasm as humor, slipping in cutting remarks about your intelligence, competence, or appearance but framing them as playful.
    Angela Haupt, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
  • While the track leans toward sarcasm, the soon-to-be-anthem perfectly captures a generational sentiment.
    Jessica Roiz, Billboard, 17 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • No, absolutely not, what does offend me, though, is having the poppy try be forced upon me.
    Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 8 Nov. 2025
  • When no one in the Fortune 500 wants to risk offending Trump, leave it to Spike the Fine Motor Hedgehog to take care of business.
    Newsweek Staff, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • Community outrage At Sunday’s news conference, local politicians and activists expressed their anger and frustration at federal agents’ actions Saturday.
    Zoe Sottile, CNN Money, 10 Nov. 2025
  • Her journal entries turn despairing and remorseful, colored by moral outrage.
    Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
Noun
  • The biggest indignity of all, though?
    Caroline Framke, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2025
  • Perhaps this move will head off that particular indignity.
    Max Foster, CNN Money, 31 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Greenstein and Goldberg tried — and failed — to dissuade their boss from giving Will Smith and his company Westbrook an overall deal with the studio, arguing that the Oscar-slap controversy and a dodgy box office track record would result in more headaches than hits.
    Tatiana Siegel, Variety, 4 Nov. 2025
  • That included two stellar stops in the waning seconds of the third with Carolina on the power play, rebuffing a slap shot and then blocking the rebound with his leg pad.
    Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 24 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • This is an affront to human dignity and that’s incredibly terrifying.
    Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025
  • This was quite an affront to the members of De Stijl who believed otherwise.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 15 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • In fact, the term itself was an epithet throughout the founding era, a way to describe ignorant and easily deceived popular majorities, perpetually vulnerable to demagogues.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • According to research from Copyleaks, an AI analysis firm that helps businesses and institutions navigate the shifting landscape of this emergent technology, a new trend has produced Sora videos of celebrities appearing to spew hateful racist epithets.
    Miles Klee, Rolling Stone, 23 Oct. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insult. Accessed 14 Nov. 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!