insult
- 01 B1 Intermediate
n.a rude or offensive remark or action that is intended to hurt someone's feelings.
n.a remark or action intended to be insolent or contemptuous. Countable in the sense of a specific remark; uncountable when referring to the behavior in general.
Simple“He took it as a personal insult when they didn't invite him to the party.”
In context“The politician's speech was perceived as a calculated insult to the local community, sparking immediate protests outside the town hall.”
Antonyms - 02 C1 Advanced
n.an injury or something that causes damage to a part of your body.
n.a physical injury, trauma, or a stimulus that causes damage to a tissue or organ.
Simple“The brain can suffer a serious insult if it does not get enough oxygen.”
In context“The patient's liver had sustained a significant toxic insult due to prolonged exposure to industrial chemicals.”
UsageOften used in phrases like 'cerebral insult' or 'toxic insult'.
- 03 B1 Intermediate
v.to say or do something rude to someone because you want to offend them.
v.to treat with offensive insolence or contempt; to affront deliberately.
Simple“I didn't mean to insult your cooking; I just wasn't very hungry.”
In context“The diplomat was careful not to insult his hosts by refusing the traditional meal, even though he found the flavors quite challenging.”
Synonyms - 04 C2 Proficiency
n.a sudden attack on a place, especially one made without much preparation.
n.a sudden, unannounced assault or onset, particularly one executed without formal preparation or siege works.
Simple“The fort was taken by insult in the middle of the night.”
In context“The commander decided to take the outpost by insult rather than wait for the heavy artillery to arrive for a formal siege.”
“She added it was an "insult to Andrew's family, his friends, his colleagues and the entire policing family".”
“Rural campaign groups argue it is impossible to put a price on the loss of landscapes, and some residents living close to proposed projects say the money being offered is an insult.”
The verb is derived from Middle French insulter (modern French insulter (“to insult”)) or its etymon Latin īnsultō (“to spring, leap or jump at or upon; to abuse, insult, revile, taunt”), the frequentative form of īnsiliō (“to bound; to leap in or upon”), from in- (prefix meaning ‘in, inside, within’) + saliō (“to bound, jump, leap; to spring forth; to flow down”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sel- (“to spring”)). The noun is derived from Middle French insult (modern French insulte (“insult”)) or its etymon Late Latin insultus (“insult, reviling, scoffing”), from īnsiliō (“to bound; to leap in or upon”); see above.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.