insulting — showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect; offensively disrespectful
Part of speech: ADJECTIVE
Definition: showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect; offensively disrespectful
Pronunciation (IPA): /ɪnˈsʌltɪŋ/
Example Sentences
- The comedian's joke was so insulting that half the audience walked out.
- She found his insulting email completely unprofessional.
- The boss's insulting attitude toward employees led to mass resignations.
insulting
ADJECTIVE[/ɪnˈsʌltɪŋ/]
showing a rude and arrogant lack of respect; offensively disrespectful
His insulting remark about her cooking left the whole dinner table frozen in shock.
Insulting during consulting, resulting in disaster!
Got the picture? Now let's practice.
🎤Pronunciation
🌳Etymology
Origin
The word derives from Latin 'insultare', meaning 'to jump upon' or 'to attack'. Originally referring to physical assault—leaping upon an enemy to strike—the meaning evolved metaphorically over time to denote verbal attack or offense.
Breakdown
in- (upon) + saltare (to jump, to leap). The prefix 'in-' means 'on' or 'upon', while 'saltare' is the Latin verb meaning 'to jump' or 'to dance', creating the literal sense of 'jumping upon' before shifting to figurative verbal attack.
🎵Rhyme
🔗Collocations
📝Examples
“The comedian's joke was so insulting that half the audience walked out.”
“She found his insulting email completely unprofessional.”
“The boss's insulting attitude toward employees led to mass resignations.”
“My cat gave me an insulting look when I forgot to feed him on time.”
📚Related Words
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related
Want to master 19,000+ words?
Sign up free for flashcards & quizzes.