Insult
noun
A rude or disrespectful action or remark to someone.
Calling someone stupid is an insult.
Often appears as...
- direct insult
- throw an insult
verb
To say or do something impolite or disrespectful to someone.
He insulted her by calling her fat.
Often appears as...
- insult someone
- insult intelligence
noun
Injury or damage.
The bad diet was an insult to his body.
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
noun
A rude or disrespectful action or remark to someone.
Calling someone stupid is an insult.
Often appears as...
- direct insult
- throw an insult
verb
To say or do something impolite or disrespectful to someone.
He insulted her by calling her fat.
Often appears as...
- insult someone
- insult intelligence
noun
Injury or damage.
The bad diet was an insult to his body.
Usage tips
Formal
Technical
Definition 1 of 3
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Some words deemed insults in one culture may not be seen as such in another.
In some places, being called 'skinny' is an insult, in others it's a compliment.
Pro Tip 2/3Tone Matters
The same phrase may or may not be an insult based on the speaker's tone.
'You are funny' could be an insult if said sarcastically.
Pro Tip 3/3Contextual Intensity
Insults can vary in severity depending on the context and relationship between people.
'Clown' is a light-hearted insult among friends but can be severe in a formal setting.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Some words deemed insults in one culture may not be seen as such in another.
In some places, being called 'skinny' is an insult, in others it's a compliment.
Pro Tip 2/3Tone Matters
The same phrase may or may not be an insult based on the speaker's tone.
'You are funny' could be an insult if said sarcastically.
Pro Tip 3/3Contextual Intensity
Insults can vary in severity depending on the context and relationship between people.
'Clown' is a light-hearted insult among friends but can be severe in a formal setting.
Pro Tip 1/3Cultural Sensitivity
Some words deemed insults in one culture may not be seen as such in another.
In some places, being called 'skinny' is an insult, in others it's a compliment.
Pro Tip 2/3Tone Matters
The same phrase may or may not be an insult based on the speaker's tone.
'You are funny' could be an insult if said sarcastically.
Pro Tip 3/3Contextual Intensity
Insults can vary in severity depending on the context and relationship between people.
'Clown' is a light-hearted insult among friends but can be severe in a formal setting.
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Video examples
This could be why you're...
I understand that really well from personal experience. But with the right help, we can understand these problems and we can fix these problems together. But to do that, the very first step is we have to stop insulting these signals by saying they're a sign of weakness, or madness or purely biological,
Video examples
I grew up in the...
I thought my rightness justified my rudeness -- harsh tones, raised voices, insults, interruptions -- but that strategy is ultimately counterproductive. Dialing up the volume and the snark is natural in stressful situations, but it tends to bring the conversation to an unsatisfactory, explosive end.
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
if if I or other members of the council are going to be criticizing you or the department are you saying that you will will withhold support of these services to fight crime in our districts that is the most insulting thing I have heard on this council floor and all the time
Video examples
How to speak up for...
he got an offer from a distribution company. He was excited, and he was inclined to accept the offer. But as a negotiations researcher, I insisted he make a counteroffer, and I helped him craft the perfect one. And it was perfect -- it was perfectly insulting.
Video examples
How bacteria "talk" -...
point nine percent bacterial and these bacteria are not passive writers these are incredibly important they keep us alive they cover us in an invisible body armor that keeps environmental insults out so that we stay healthy they digest our
Video examples
Blueprint for a quiet...
right now without insulting the speaker yes I saw the horrified looks on your faces even through the glare of these spotlights so this is how so many introverts feel about the team-building exercises we are forever obliged to
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
he began patrolling the beach at night to protect the turtles a brave thing to do we were met with tremendous resistance people would pelt us at night i have had persons um insult me and my heart person
Video examples
Saving Leatherback...
to protect the turtles a brave thing to do we were met with tremendous resistance people would pelt us at night i have had persons um insult me and my heart person cursed me or that person physically
Video examples
Insults by Shakespeare
are used for many different to set the mood of the scene, to give some more atmosphere to the setting, and to develop relationships between characters. Insults do this in a very short and sharp way.
Video examples
Relax With BBC Earth PIPE...
He began patrolling the beach at night to protect the turtles. A brave thing to do. We were met with tremendous resistance. People would pelt us at night, I have had persons insult me
Video examples
This could be why you're...
I understand that really well from personal experience. But with the right help, we can understand these problems and we can fix these problems together. But to do that, the very first step is we have to stop insulting these signals by saying they're a sign of weakness, or madness or purely biological,
Video examples
I grew up in the...
I thought my rightness justified my rudeness -- harsh tones, raised voices, insults, interruptions -- but that strategy is ultimately counterproductive. Dialing up the volume and the snark is natural in stressful situations, but it tends to bring the conversation to an unsatisfactory, explosive end.
Video examples
LA92 Panel - Live PIPE...
if if I or other members of the council are going to be criticizing you or the department are you saying that you will will withhold support of these services to fight crime in our districts that is the most insulting thing I have heard on this council floor and all the time
Video examples
How to speak up for...
he got an offer from a distribution company. He was excited, and he was inclined to accept the offer. But as a negotiations researcher, I insisted he make a counteroffer, and I helped him craft the perfect one. And it was perfect -- it was perfectly insulting.
Video examples
How bacteria "talk" -...
point nine percent bacterial and these bacteria are not passive writers these are incredibly important they keep us alive they cover us in an invisible body armor that keeps environmental insults out so that we stay healthy they digest our
Video examples
Blueprint for a quiet...
right now without insulting the speaker yes I saw the horrified looks on your faces even through the glare of these spotlights so this is how so many introverts feel about the team-building exercises we are forever obliged to
Video examples
Sir David Attenborough...
he began patrolling the beach at night to protect the turtles a brave thing to do we were met with tremendous resistance people would pelt us at night i have had persons um insult me and my heart person
Video examples
Saving Leatherback...
to protect the turtles a brave thing to do we were met with tremendous resistance people would pelt us at night i have had persons um insult me and my heart person cursed me or that person physically
Video examples
Insults by Shakespeare
are used for many different to set the mood of the scene, to give some more atmosphere to the setting, and to develop relationships between characters. Insults do this in a very short and sharp way.
Video examples
Relax With BBC Earth PIPE...
He began patrolling the beach at night to protect the turtles. A brave thing to do. We were met with tremendous resistance. People would pelt us at night, I have had persons insult me
Example 1 of 10
Quote examples
Kerry Kennedy
American Activist
When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression, they insult the person who suffers, making it seem that those in agony are somehow at fault for not 'cheering up.' The fact is that those who suffer - and those who love them - are no more at fault for depression than a cancer patient is for a tumor.
Quote examples
Jim James
American Musician
It's really important to be free and be open and honest about the things you want to do. Just 'cause you want to make a solo record or another record with another band, it doesn't have to be an insult or a slight to the band you've been with for a long time.
Quote examples
Toni Morrison
American Novelist
The unflattering reviews are painful for short periods of time; the badly written ones are deeply, deeply insulting. That reviewer took no time to really read the book.
Quote examples
Jimmy O. Yang
Chinese Actor
I've heard other actors saying they don't want to play a character with an accent at all. To me, that's kind of an insult to somebody like me who did have an accent.
Quote examples
Naomi Osaka
Japanese Athlete
I guess I tell jokes a lot, but I'm not really that sure because sometimes they don't laugh, and they just stare at me like I said something insulting.
Quote examples
Jennifer Brady
American Athlete
Growing up a lot of people said I played like a guy. They thought it was an insult, but I was like, 'That's fine, I don't care.
Quote examples
Jessica Valenti
American Writer
How insulting is it to suggest the best thing women can do is raise other people to do incredible things?
Quote examples
Peyton Manning
American Athlete
The word 'embarrassing' is an insulting word, to tell you the truth.
Quote examples
Javed Jaffrey
Indian Actor
I don't like to insult people and I encourage them.
Quote examples
Ramzan Kadyrov
Chechen Politician
Personality cults are an insult to Islam.
Quote examples
Kerry Kennedy
American Activist
When people say there is a 'reason' for the depression, they insult the person who suffers, making it seem that those in agony are somehow at fault for not 'cheering up.' The fact is that those who suffer - and those who love them - are no more at fault for depression than a cancer patient is for a tumor.
Quote examples
Jim James
American Musician
It's really important to be free and be open and honest about the things you want to do. Just 'cause you want to make a solo record or another record with another band, it doesn't have to be an insult or a slight to the band you've been with for a long time.
Quote examples
Toni Morrison
American Novelist
The unflattering reviews are painful for short periods of time; the badly written ones are deeply, deeply insulting. That reviewer took no time to really read the book.
Quote examples
Jimmy O. Yang
Chinese Actor
I've heard other actors saying they don't want to play a character with an accent at all. To me, that's kind of an insult to somebody like me who did have an accent.
Quote examples
Naomi Osaka
Japanese Athlete
I guess I tell jokes a lot, but I'm not really that sure because sometimes they don't laugh, and they just stare at me like I said something insulting.
Quote examples
Jennifer Brady
American Athlete
Growing up a lot of people said I played like a guy. They thought it was an insult, but I was like, 'That's fine, I don't care.
Quote examples
Jessica Valenti
American Writer
How insulting is it to suggest the best thing women can do is raise other people to do incredible things?
Quote examples
Peyton Manning
American Athlete
The word 'embarrassing' is an insulting word, to tell you the truth.
Quote examples
Javed Jaffrey
Indian Actor
I don't like to insult people and I encourage them.
Quote examples
Ramzan Kadyrov
Chechen Politician
Personality cults are an insult to Islam.
Example 1 of 10
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