INSULT Synonyms: 91 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'insult' distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of insult are affront , offend , and outrage . While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame. // insulted every guest at the party

Q: When might 'affront' be a better fit than 'insult'?

The synonyms affront and insult are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy. // deeply affronted by his callousness

Q: When would 'offend' be a good substitute for 'insult'?

The words offend and insult are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting. // hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Q: Where would 'outrage' be a reasonable alternative to 'insult'?

The words outrage and insult can be used in similar contexts, but outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings. // outraged by their accusations

insult 1 of 2

noun

ˈin-ˌsəlt

Definition of insult

as in sarcasm

an act or expression showing scorn and usually intended to hurt another's feelings panelists on that political talk show simply exchange insults, not ideas

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

insult

2 of 2

verb

in-ˈsəlt

as in to offend

to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word insult distinct from other similar verbs?

Some common synonyms of insult are affront, offend, and outrage. While all these words mean "to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment," insult suggests deliberately causing humiliation, hurt pride, or shame.

insulted every guest at the party

When might affront be a better fit than insult?

The synonyms affront and insult are sometimes interchangeable, but affront implies treating with deliberate rudeness or contemptuous indifference to courtesy.

deeply affronted by his callousness

When would offend be a good substitute for insult?

The words offend and insult are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, offend need not imply an intentional hurting but it may indicate merely a violation of the victim's sense of what is proper or fitting.

hoped that my remarks had not offended her

Where would outrage be a reasonable alternative to insult?

The words outrage and insult can be used in similar contexts, but outrage implies offending beyond endurance and calling forth extreme feelings.

outraged by their accusations

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of insult

Noun

For racist, homophobic, and discriminatory chants and insults made by Argentine spectators during matches against Cape Verde, Egypt, Switzerland, England, and Spain, a fine of $100,000 and a similar amount suspended for a period of 6 months. — Michelle Kaufman august 21, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026 Data centers are booming, and so is the controversy Dunkin', Alix Earle collab on 'Earle-Y Riser Meal' American tourist killed by lightning on Italy's Mount Etna 'Polyester’ is Gen Z’s newest viral insult. — Saleen Martin, USA Today, 20 Aug. 2026

Verb

To make the shame of export controls about sales lost is to insult the seriousness of the sales process. — John Tamny, Forbes.com, 18 Aug. 2026 The two proceed to deceive each other, insult each other’s appearances, and abandon each other in precarious situations. — Faith Hill, The Atlantic, 14 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for insult

Recent Examples of Synonyms for insult

Noun

The other presidents had some semblance of comedic appreciation, whether through cynicism, irony, sarcasm, joke-telling, joke appreciation or storytelling.

— John Blumenthal, Chicago Tribune, 16 Aug. 2026
Like all of Roth’s content, there is a mix of dead seriousness, dry sarcasm, and wondrous joy in equal measure.

— Marisa Meltzer, Vanity Fair, 12 Aug. 2026

Definition of sarcasm

Verb

DeChatelet, an acting instructor at Florida Atlantic University, uses his halting speech to depict a person who’s afraid of offending anyone.

— Oline Cogdill, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026
Patterson indicated he wasn’t offended when the Dolphins signed Gonzalez as competition.

— Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of offend

Noun

The videos fueled public outrage and days of protests in Oakland, including marches from Fruitvale station into downtown.

— Chase Hunter, Mercury News, 25 Aug. 2026
In June, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyydecided to name a military unit after a Ukrainian paramilitary organization accused of massacring Poles during World War II, causing outrage in Poland.

— ABC News, ABC News, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of outrage

Noun

Hollywood can forgive a lot, but being beaten by ‘CatVideoFest’ is the sort of indignity that writes its own punchline.

— Christina Dugan Ramirez , Ashley Papa , Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026
Moreover, because the Sears catalog did not racially discriminate, economic historians credit the catalog as a major tool for Black consumers to side-step the indignities and discrimination of Jim Crow commerce.

— Harold Pollack, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of indignity

Noun

Cusk’s final affront to the novel is to disaggregate it into unreconciled elements without making any concession to cohesion.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Medusa is raped by Poseidon, but because Poseidon raped her in Athena’s temple, Athena takes it as an affront and blames Medusa, cursing her by turning her hair into snakes.

— Erin Qualey, Vulture, 27 July 2026

Definition of affront

Noun

The raid drew criticism over separating families, and a group of Idahoans sued, saying officers hurled racial epithets and largely withheld water, food, bathrooms and medical care.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 15 Aug. 2026
Hochman detailed a number of prosecutions, including the sentence of one man to a life sentence plus seven years with the possibility of parole for a March 23 attack, during which racial epithets were uttered.

— City News Service, Daily News, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of epithet

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“Insult.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insult. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of insult

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