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

Other Word Forms

• insolently adverb
• insolence noun
• overinsolent adjective
• overinsolently 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

Fans were momentarily disappointed, but nothing could detract from the insolent, messy glory of tracks like Club Classics or Sympathy Is A Knife.

From BBC

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

From BBC

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

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

From Seattle Times

Describing Sandy, Jefferson noted, “He is greatly addicted to drink, and when drunk is insolent and disorderly, in his conversation he swears much, and in his behavior is artful and knavish.”

From Literature

Related Words

• disrespectful