Word
insult
Meanings
A rude or offensive remark or action that makes someone feel disrespected.
To say or do something that offends or disrespects someone.
Definition
An insult is a rude remark or action that offends someone.
An insult is something you say or do that is intended to offend, humiliate, or show disrespect. It can be a direct comment, a sarcastic remark, or even a dismissive gesture. In formal contexts, it can also refer to the act of offending someone, not just the words used.
Examples
- His comment about my presentation felt like an insult, even if he claimed it was a joke.
- I won’t insult your intelligence by pretending this problem has an easy fix.
- She took it as an insult when they ignored her questions during the meeting.
- They tried to insult him online, but he refused to engage and blocked the account.
Common mistake
Learners often confuse the noun and verb stress: the noun is usually stressed on the first syllable (INSult), while the verb is stressed on the second (inSULT).
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