insulted

UK: /ɪnˈsʌltɪd/

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sult /v. ɪnˈsʌlt; n. ˈɪnsʌlt/   v. [~ + object]

1. to treat (someone) with deep contempt;
   be rude to:
   insulted him with her remarks about his waistline.
2. to offend or demean:
   a TV sitcom that insults my intelligence.

n. [countable]

3. a rude action or remark:
   traded insults with his rival.
4. something having the effect of an insult:
   That show is an insult to my intelligence.

in•sult•ing, adj. 

: insulting remarks.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

in•sult  (v. in sult′;n. in′sult), v.t. 

1. to treat or speak to insolently or with contemptuous rudeness;
   affront.
2. to affect as an affront;
   offend or demean.
3. [Archaic.] to attack;
   assault.

v.i. 

4. [Archaic.] to behave with insolent triumph;
   exult contemptuously (usually fol. by on, upon, or over).

n. 

5. an insolent or contemptuously rude action or remark;
   affront.
6. something having the effect of an affront:
   That book is an insult to one's intelligence.
7. Medicine
   • an injury or trauma.
   • an agent that inflicts this.
8. [Archaic.] an attack or assault.

• Latin insultāre to jump on, insult, equivalent. to in- in-² + -sultāre, combining form of saltāre to jump; see saltant
• 1560–70

in•sult′a•ble, adj. 
in•sult′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. offend, scorn, injure, abuse.
• 5. offense, outrage.
  Insult, indignity, affront, slight imply an act that injures another's honor, self-respect, etc.
  Insult implies such insolence of speech or manner as deeply humiliates or wounds one's feelings and arouses to anger.
  Indignity is esp. used of inconsiderate, contemptuous treatment toward one entitled to respect.
  Affront implies open disrespect or offense shown, as it were, to the face.
  Slight may imply inadvertent indifference or disregard, which may also indicate ill-concealed contempt.

Antonyms

• 1, 5. compliment.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

insult verb / ɪnˈsʌlt/(transitive)

1. to treat, mention, or speak to rudely; offend; affront

noun / ˈɪnsʌlt/

1. an offensive or contemptuous remark or action; affront; slight
2. a person or thing producing the effect of an affront: some television is an insult to intelligence
3. an injury or trauma

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin insultāre to jump upon, from in-² + saltāre to jump

inˈsulter noun