ENGLISH
REFERENCE

insolent

adj.
C1 Advanced US //ˈɪnsəɫənt// UK //ˈɪnsələnt// in·so·lent

adj. showing a rude and disrespectful attitude. You use this to describe someone who is being very impolite and thinks they are better than others.

adj. characterised by a disrespectful and arrogant attitude. Often used to describe a person's manner or speech that shows a lack of deference.


SIMPLE

The waiter was very insolent to the customers.

CONTEXTUAL

The manager was shocked by the insolent attitude of the new intern during the meeting.

COMPLEX

The protagonist's journey is defined by his transition from an insolent youth who defies all authority to a mature leader who earns respect through quiet competence.

Synonyms
Origin

PIE word *swé From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin īnsolēns (“unaccustomed, unwanted, unusual, immoderate, excessive, arrogant, insolent”), from in- (privative prefix) + solēns, present participle of solēre (“to be accustomed, to be wont”).

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