insults 1 of 2

noun

plural of insult
as in sarcasms
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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insults

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of insult
as in offends
to cause hurt feelings or deep resentment in insulted their hosts by casually remarking about the outdated look of their home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

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 insults
Noun
He was subsequently dismissed by Dior and, months later, found guilty by a French court of making public insults based on origin, religion, race, or ethnicity. — Daisy Maldonado, InStyle, 31 Aug. 2026 The arrest came after Kelley Wolf had reportedly made a series of hostile social media posts, which featured insults and allegations against various friends and family, including her ex-husband, Wolf. — Edward Segarra, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026 He was criminally convicted in France for racist and antisemitic public insults. — Kimberly Nordyke, HollywoodReporter, 29 Aug. 2026 In messages to each other, the two men referred to their victims in insults and derogatory language, according to the complaint. — Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2026 The ensuing insults launched between Shapiro and Kennedy happened both on social media and during separate press conferences this week. — Arthur Jones Ii, ABC News, 27 Aug. 2026 The exchange began when Pham criticized Myers over a play, leading to a heated back-and-forth online, with Pham eventually resorting to personal insults. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 23 Aug. 2026 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 The source said Fields felt targeted by teammates with insults and threats, including multiple moments when was allegedly spit on by a teammate. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 19 Aug. 2026
Verb
That's what happens when your star insults moviegoers or goes off on tangents about the characters's sexuality. — Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026 Ohm quickly insults nearly every employee at this small hotel within moments of meeting them, except for the young, pretty bartender, Fiona (Florence Ordesh). — ABC News, 29 Apr. 2026 Saariaho never once loses control of momentum and never insults her own tastefulness. — Justin Davidson, Vulture, 7 Apr. 2026 As the President insults allies, woos dictators, and spurns long-standing commitments, Rubio has to convince his counterparts that America will not entirely abandon its friends. — Dexter Filkins, New Yorker, 12 Jan. 2026 The paddling comes as revenge for multiple times Marty insults the businessman throughout the movie. — Tommy McArdle, PEOPLE, 26 Dec. 2025 Basil, of course, is far from perfect, a rude, neurotic, accident-prone manager who insults guests, hides his gambling winnings from his wife and organizes an elaborate impersonation of her when his surprise anniversary party backfires. — Rhett Bartlett, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025 Attorney General Pam Bondi insults Democrats in Senate hearing. — Sudiksha Kochi, USA Today, 8 Oct. 2025 In the case of Governor Pritzker insults his body, body shamed him. — Khaleda Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insults
  1. sarcasms
  2. offends
  3. outrages
  4. taunts
  5. indignities
  6. wounds
  7. epithets
  8. barbs
Noun
  • First seen at a night-club table of menacing lowlifes, Ida, whose mother tongue is Brooklynese, suddenly switches to a heavy British accent and dispenses a torrent of highly literary sarcasms.
    — Richard Brody, New Yorker, 4 Mar. 2026
Definition of sarcasms
Verb
  • But something about this circus just offends me on a spiritual level.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 30 June 2026
  • And if that notion offends you, stay home and watch on television, and turn your man caves into casinos.
    — Mike Lupica, New York Daily News, 27 June 2026
Definition of offends
Noun
  • Look, of the outrages, these are like the least among them, as far as being upset with the administration, with the president.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 14 June 2026
  • More recently, Tandy Hills experienced issues with ATVs being driven through the park and damaging wildflowers, sparking outrages on social media from people who demanded the city take action.
    — Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Mar. 2026
Definition of outrages
Verb
  • Continue reading … -- POLITICS 'BAD LOOK' – Newsom's attack dog taunts Buttigieg over South Carolina visit as 2028 fight heats up.
    — , FOXNews.com, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Trump routinely mocks Newsom and refers to the governor using a derogatory nickname, while Newsom taunts the president with frequent social media posts.
    — Darlene Superville, Fortune, 4 Aug. 2026
Definition of taunts
Noun
  • 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
  • Whether Susan was subtly trying to talk me out of the job or simply preparing me for whatever indignities lay ahead was hard to say.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 30 July 2026
Definition of indignities
Verb
  • The kitchen wounds him, heals him, and becomes his crucible of faith.
    — Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 29 July 2026
  • The Atlanta Games are later marred by the Centennial Olympic Park bombing that kills Alice Hawthorne, wounds 111 others.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 27 July 2026
Definition of wounds
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 epithets
Noun
  • Asked about the rivalry Tuesday, McDonald said the Crips and Bloods in Compton were peaceful before Bad Boy and Death Row started trading barbs.
    — Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 19 Aug. 2026
  • The president has traded barbs and missile strikes with Tehran regarding the flow of regional commerce through the international waterway since peace talks with Iran broke down last month.
    — Christian Datoc, The Washington Examiner, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of barbs

Browse Nearby Words

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insults
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Cite this Entry

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

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