insulting 1 of 2

adjective

Definition of insultingnext
as in offensive

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insulting

2 of 2

verb

present participle of insult
as in offending
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 insulting
Adjective
Considering there were only 33 appearances this past season, such Heat prudence hardly could be viewed as insulting. — Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 20 June 2026 What Florence has been doing is consistent and insulting. — Jeanne Phillips, Mercury News, 19 June 2026
Verb
In June 2022, Cuban authorities sentenced Otero Alcántara to five years in prison on charges including public disorder, contempt and insulting national symbols. — Daniel Cassady, ARTnews.com, 20 July 2026 Odysseus gets into trouble in the first place by insulting the gods, thus making an enemy of Poseidon. — Jim Beckerman, USA Today, 16 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for insulting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insulting
  1. offensive
  2. offending
  3. outrageous
  4. outraging
  5. abusive
  6. taunting
  7. vituperative
  8. disrespecting
Adjective
  • Rezaei’s remarks are another indication of the control exerted by Tehran’s hardliners and their growing readiness to adopt a more offensive posture.
    — Tim Lister, CNN Money, 23 Aug. 2026
  • Shanahan previously yielded play-calling duties to offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak, who has called plays throughout the preseason.
    — Chris Biderman, Sacbee.com, 23 Aug. 2026
Definition of offensive
Verb
  • DeChatelet, an acting instructor at Florida Atlantic University, uses his halting speech to depict a person who’s afraid of offending anyone.
    — Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
  • The offending text directed any AI system reviewing the document to ensure textual outputs agreed with the plaintiff’s arguments, ignored prior denials from the court, and ensured that remediation would follow as the plaintiff desired.
    — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of offending
Adjective
  • Worth watching this outrageous throw from Braves right fielder Ronald Acuña Jr.
    — Matt Piper, New York Times, 22 Aug. 2026
  • Their outrageous friend Mel (Fisher) crashes the weekend, and gets the foursome in trouble with the spa’s owner, Shanti (Erika Heynatz).
    — Erin Jensen, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026
Definition of outrageous
Verb
  • The Hitlerite hordes are murdering and outraging the peaceful inhabitants of our country, having no mercy on women, children or old people.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 12 Aug. 2026
  • On Day 1 of the truce, and in the days since, Israel has stepped up attacks against Hezbollah, an Iranian proxy, in Lebanon, outraging Iran and leading to accusations the terms had been breached.
    — Justin Fishel, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2026
Definition of outraging
Adjective
  • At the Texas and Connecticut trials, victims’ relatives testified that Jones’ followers — believing his claims that the shooting didn’t happen — subjected them to death and rape threats, in-person harassment and abusive comments on social media.
    — Jim Vertuno, Fortune, 21 Aug. 2026
  • In 2026, a seemingly never-ending wave of layoffs and studio closures has made jobs so scarce that workers may feel more pressure to tolerate abusive conditions.
    — Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of abusive
Verb
  • Cunningham’s highlights are hard fouls, a few 3-pointers, taunting, serving as a ring girl at a UFC fight, her sense of humor, and now commentary that has a Fox flair.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2026
  • His gruff mechanic Cooter Davenport is introduced as a hell-raising, uncouth wild man, constantly taunting the authorities and flouting convention.
    — Ryan Coleman, Entertainment Weekly, 10 Aug. 2026
Definition of taunting
Adjective
  • In Maine, Graham Platner — who, like Avila Chevalier, had a vituperative social media history — easily defeated the state’s governor, Janet Mills, for the Senate nomination.
    — Michelle Goldberg, Mercury News, 27 June 2026
  • The Irish comedy writer has become better known for his assertion that trans women are men and criticism of trans activism, expressed in often vituperative social media posts.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 1 May 2026
Definition of vituperative
Verb
  • Oakley and Dolan have long feuded, with Oakley accusing Dolan of treating him less favorably than other Knicks legends, including by not providing him complimentary tickets and allegedly disrespecting him in other ways.
    — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The leak itself received a mountain of backlash from industry professionals, animators and others for disrespecting the years of work put into crafting the film.
    — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026
Definition of disrespecting

Browse Nearby Words

insulters
insulting
insults
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Cite this Entry

“Insulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insulting. Accessed 29 Aug. 2026.

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