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to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home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
Even more insulting was the cold, transactional nature of the intrusion. — Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026 Even instances of heckling at games – over performance on the court – felt good-natured, rather than insulting. — Odette Yousef, NPR, 29 Aug. 2026
Verb
Griffin brought up the moment as the cohosts discussed Andy Cohen apologizing for previously insulting Dancing With the Stars performer Julia Stiles, who called the Watch What Happens Live host out on DWTS earlier this week. — Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Sep. 2026 There were also insulting chants against Sanchez, another sign of the noisy debate over the government's handling of the crisis. — Dermot Corrigan, New York Times, 9 Sep. 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
  • With the Chiefs having the game in hand in the fourth quarter, offensive coordinator Matt Nagy approached head coach Andy Reid with a suggestion.
    — Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 23 Oct. 2026
  • In his second game back from a hamstring injury, Caleb continued to ride an offensive groove, throwing for 308 yards (22-of-32) and two touchdowns.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 23 Oct. 2026
Definition of offensive
Verb
  • Interestingly, there is no statistically detectable difference in offending rates before college, suggesting the future fraternity members weren’t always fundamentally different in their behavior.
    — Jens Ludwig, Chicago Tribune, 18 Oct. 2026
  • What that means is that drone hunter just locked on to the offending drone.
    — Norah O'Donnell, CBS News, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of offending
Adjective
  • The mill is mated to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and makes a still-outrageous 1,184 hp and 1,106 hp.
    — Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 21 Oct. 2026
  • She was asked what was the most outrageous thing she's ever done in the name of fashion.
    — Sean Joseph OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Oct. 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
  • Advocates Against Family Violence in Canyon County is available at 208-459-4779 for anyone in need of help or shelter in an abusive relationship.
    — Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Animal rights activists have argued in favor of banning the industry for more than two decades, calling the work dangerous and inherently abusive to the equines.
    — Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of abusive
Verb
  • Last week, Greenlaw was fined $11,941 for unsportsmanlike conduct after taunting the Broncos' sideline and head coach Sean Payton.
    — Armando Salguero OutKick, FOXNews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Greenlaw was fined $11,941 for taunting the Broncos’ sideline in a win last week.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 12 Oct. 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 28 Oct. 2026.

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