insolent

[ in-suh-luhnt ]

adjective

1. boldly rude or disrespectful; contemptuously impertinent; insulting:

   an insolent reply.

   Synonyms: contemptuous, brazen

noun

1. an insolent person.

insolent

/ ˈɪnsələnt /

adjective

1. offensive, impudent, or disrespectful

Derived Forms

• ˈinsolently, adverb
• ˈinsolence, noun

Other Words From

• inso·lent·ly adverb
• over·inso·lent adjective
• over·inso·lent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of insolent¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English from Latin insolent- (stem of insolēns ) “departing from custom,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + sol- (stem of solēre “to be accustomed”) + -ent- -ent

Word History and Origins

Origin of insolent¹

C14: from Latin insolens, from in- ¹+ solēre to be accustomed

Synonym Study

See impertinent.

Example Sentences

Gil described as “insolent, meddling and rude” comments made by Spanish Defence Minister Margarita Robles.

From BBC

This is, after all, a star whose looks over the years have been described as sensual though also insolent, cruel, self-absorbed and androgynous, a word that helps explain why his beauty — as with that of other men whose looks threaten tidy gender norms — makes some viewers uneasy even as it sends others into ecstasy.

From New York Times

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected allegations that Putin was involved in Navalny’s death, calling them “absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state.”

From Seattle Times

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov rejected the allegations of a cover-up, telling reporters these are “absolutely unfounded, insolent accusations about the head of the Russian state.”

From Seattle Times

She has accused Putin of killing her husband — a suggestion Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed as “unfounded” and “insolent.”

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• disrespectful