# insulting

/ˌɪnˈsəɫtɪŋ/ (US) · /ɪnsˈʌltɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. offensive or rude

adjective · CEFR B2

rude or offensive in a way that is intended to upset someone.

For teachers: characterised by or containing an insult; intended to offend or demean the recipient.

- I found his comments about my cooking very insulting.
- The diplomat's refusal to acknowledge the local customs was seen as deeply insulting by the host nation's representatives.

### 2. the act of offending

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

the act of saying or doing something rude to someone.

For teachers: the action of treating someone with disrespect or scornful abuse.

- The constant insulting from the crowd made it hard for the players to focus.
- The systematic insulting of political opponents has become a regrettable feature of modern televised debates.

## Examples

- He made an insulting comment about her work.
- The customer was asked to leave the store after using insulting language toward the staff.
- While the critique was intended to be constructive, the harshness of the delivery felt deeply insulting to the young artist who had spent months on the project.

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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.