as in offensive
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
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insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home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
Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Perkins said the drink bore the insulting message.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2025
Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
One emoji prompted a social media nightmare for a Greater Cincinnati doughnut shop – and forced them to publicly apologize for insulting the area's LGBTQ+ community.
—Randy Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insulting
Adjective
To educate all of them in similar ways is insulting, and silly.
—Josh Hammer, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
Perkins said the drink bore the insulting message.
—Victoria Moorwood, Cincinnati Enquirer, 22 Sep. 2025
Verb
Houston’s Ime Udoka was fined $25,000 for insulting the refs during his postgame comments after a loss to the Nuggets on Monday.
—Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 22 Dec. 2025
One emoji prompted a social media nightmare for a Greater Cincinnati doughnut shop – and forced them to publicly apologize for insulting the area's LGBTQ+ community.
—Randy Tucker, Cincinnati Enquirer, 20 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for insulting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insulting
Adjective
-
But unlike his son, Trent was an offensive lineman, per the Clarion Ledger.—
Emily Blackwood,
PEOPLE,
9 Jan. 2026
-
Pittsburgh offensive coordinator Arthur Smith confirmed Thursday that the Tennessee Titans have reached out to interview him for their head coach opening.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
9 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Who is this dude, and is Sanders worried about offending him?—
Deborah Vankin,
Los Angeles Times,
20 Jan. 2026
-
The offending vehicle fled in an unknown direction Unless otherwise noted, no arrests were made in the above incidents.—
Adam Harrington,
CBS News,
18 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
One year, countless outrageous ensembles and quippy one-liners later, viewers still can’t get enough of her.—
Colleen Kratofil,
PEOPLE,
28 Jan. 2026
-
The Lakers broke the NBA with that trade a year ago; a repeat event would be pretty outrageous, even for this franchise.—
Broderick Turner,
Los Angeles Times,
28 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The federal agency was tasked with creating and enforcing rules to protect consumers from abusive practices across a range of financial institutions.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Back home, their physically abusive father stalks the shadowy hallways.—
Blake Simons,
IndieWire,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Rich kids on scooters swerved aggressively around the gillagers, taunting them.—
Sean Williams,
Harpers Magazine,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The emotions twice resulted in technical fouls against Brentwood players for taunting.—
Eric Sondheimer,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
But, in private, Koren could be aggressive and vituperative—a competitive colleague who sought to destroy the reputations and careers of those who crossed him.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Bal and Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, while almost certainly proceeding without Israeli institutional support, given the vituperative reactions his recent films have provoked — and, by his own admission, have been designed to provoke.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
After a year of Trump disrespecting European allies, many had wondered how much of the old transatlantic ties remained.—
Joseph Ataman,
CNN Money,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Deerfield Beach is cutting ties with the Broward Sheriff’s Office after a 35-year relationship that deteriorated over the last 12 months, with each side accusing the other of disrespecting leadership and putting politics and personalities ahead of policing needs.—
Rafael Olmeda,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
In the Hulu version of the story, Clarke plays Alex, a middle-aged lawyer stealing money from his clients and funneling it into an opioid addiction and, the series implies, other scurrilous crimes.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
-
The justices who renounced that lie in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center exposed themselves to scurrilous criticisms and even threats to their safety.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Insulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insulting. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
