as in offensive
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as in offending
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in
insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of insulting
Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Survivors rejected the offer, calling it insulting.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Also, this is just a really horrible, insulting offer on Elizabeth’s part.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insulting
Adjective
For filmmakers who view their individual work as the center of gravity, this can sit somewhere between confusing and insulting.
—Dana Harris-Bridson, IndieWire, 15 Apr. 2026
Survivors rejected the offer, calling it insulting.
—Jt Moodee Lockman, CBS News, 7 Apr. 2026
Verb
Late at night, the staff are known for insulting anyone brave enough to step up to the counter.
—Jimmy Jellinek, SPIN, 27 Apr. 2026
Also, this is just a really horrible, insulting offer on Elizabeth’s part.
—Erin Qualey, Vulture, 15 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for insulting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insulting
Adjective
-
Brunson, seemingly, has mastered basketball on the offensive end.—
James L. Edwards III,
New York Times,
11 May 2026
-
The Fire did not have an offensive rebound until deep in the third quarter and finished with only three, a testament to the Sky’s ability to control rebounds and eliminate second-chance opportunities.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
10 May 2026
Verb
-
Today, some of the offending posts are gone.—
Toby Axelrod,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
-
The collection was packed away in the museum’s vault, untouched for decades to avoid offending Islamic values or creating the appearance of catering to Western sensibilities.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
Longtime Super Bowl advertisers who typically buy several commercials found the initial ask — as much as $20 million when ad slot and match are combined — outrageous.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
13 May 2026
-
At the film’s after-party there will be tee-shirts that are a tad outrageous, but also quite hilarious.—
Baz Bamigboye,
Deadline,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
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
Adjective
-
The 39-year-old man from Stowmarket, Suffolk, was charged with two counts of using threatening, abusive or insulting words or behavior to harass, cause alarm or distress and failing to provide a blood specimen in custody.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
12 May 2026
-
Temple Grandin, author and professor of livestock medicine at Colorado State University, said that punching and kicking livestock is considered abusive.—
Susanne Rust
Follow,
Los Angeles Times,
12 May 2026
Verb
-
Heck, every club’s supporters were taunting them this way.—
Daniel Taylor,
New York Times,
14 May 2026
-
Hide and Seek follows a new string of murders featuring a dangerous stalker who kidnaps their victims before killing them, taunting them via text in the format of a popular Danish children’s counting rhyme (though the words chosen by the killer are far more violent).—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
7 May 2026
Adjective
-
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
-
David smells an opportunity but completely misreads Hale, a vicious and vituperative man who delights in tormenting lesser writers.—
Stuart Miller,
Oc Register,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
When a referee is missing calls and clearly disrespecting the players, almost mocking them, they must be held accountable.—
Doug Haller,
New York Times,
24 Apr. 2026
-
The guard then went to Ada’s table and — according to the girl’s parents — spoke to Ada and her mother aggressively about disrespecting and harassing people.—
Lisa Gutierrez,
Kansas City Star,
26 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Insulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insulting. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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