insulting

[ in-suhl-ting ]

adjective

1. giving or causing insult; characterized by affronting rudeness, insolence, etc.

   Synonyms: nasty, offensive, derogatory, abusive, discourteous, rude

Other Words From

• in·sulting·ly adverb
• unin·sulting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of insulting¹

First recorded in 1585–95; insult + -ing ²

Example Sentences

A survivors group described the comments as "extremely painful and insulting".

From BBC

“To compare us to Mexico is the most insulting thing I’ve ever heard,” said Ford.

From BBC

“An 11th hour partisan proposal released 415 days after the expiration of the current farm bill is insulting,” he wrote.

From Salon

Politicians had to "stop insulting your intelligence with the chicanery of easy answers, when that is exactly how we got into this mess in the first place", he said.

From BBC

He has also proven erratic, at one point praising them, at another insulting them and starting trade wars with China.

From Salon

Related Words

• biting
• degrading
• derogatory
• disparaging
• disrespectful
• hurtful
• offensive
• repulsive
• rude