insult — to speak to or treat someone in a way that is rude or shows lack of respect
Part of speech: VERB
Definition: to speak to or treat someone in a way that is rude or shows lack of respect
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈsʌlt/
Example Sentences
- My mom said my cooking was 'interesting' - which is basically a polite insult
- Don't insult my driving skills just because I made one tiny mistake... okay, maybe ten mistakes
- The customer felt insulted when the waiter ignored him
insult
VERB[/ɪnˈsʌlt/]
to speak to or treat someone in a way that is rude or shows lack of respect
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🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
From Latin insultare, meaning 'to jump upon' or 'to attack.' The word originally referred to a physical assault, particularly leaping or rushing at an opponent. The sense evolved metaphorically to denote verbal attack or offensive speech, eventually acquiring the modern meaning of 'to treat with disrespect or contempt.'
Breakdown
in- (upon, against) + saltare (to jump, leap). The compound literally means 'to jump upon,' originally describing physical assault before shifting to verbal abuse and disrespect.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“My mom said my cooking was 'interesting' - which is basically a polite insult”
“Don't insult my driving skills just because I made one tiny mistake... okay, maybe ten mistakes”
“The customer felt insulted when the waiter ignored him”
“She considered his refusal to eat her cake as an insult to her baking”
📚Related Words
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