# insult

/ˈɪnˌsəɫt/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/insult
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. a rude remark

noun · CEFR B1

a rude or offensive remark or action that is intended to hurt someone's feelings.

For teachers: 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.

- He took it as a personal insult when they didn't invite him to the party.
- The politician's speech was perceived as a calculated insult to the local community, sparking immediate protests outside the town hall.

### 2. physical injury

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

an injury or something that causes damage to a part of your body.

For teachers: a physical injury, trauma, or a stimulus that causes damage to a tissue or organ.

- The brain can suffer a serious insult if it does not get enough oxygen.
- The patient's liver had sustained a significant toxic insult due to prolonged exposure to industrial chemicals.

Usage: Often used in phrases like 'cerebral insult' or 'toxic insult'.

### 3. to be rude to someone

verb · CEFR B1

to say or do something rude to someone because you want to offend them.

For teachers: to treat with offensive insolence or contempt; to affront deliberately.

- I didn't mean to insult your cooking; I just wasn't very hungry.
- The diplomat was careful not to insult his hosts by refusing the traditional meal, even though he found the flavors quite challenging.

### 4. a military attack

noun · CEFR C2 · Archaic · Formal

a sudden attack on a place, especially one made without much preparation.

For teachers: a sudden, unannounced assault or onset, particularly one executed without formal preparation or siege works.

- The fort was taken by insult in the middle of the night.
- The commander decided to take the outpost by insult rather than wait for the heavy artillery to arrive for a formal siege.

## Examples

- He took her comment as a personal insult.
- The politician ignored the insults from the crowd and continued his speech about the new law.
- While the critique was framed as professional advice, the underlying tone felt like a calculated insult to his years of experience in the field.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.