INSULT

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does insult mean? 

• INSULT (noun)
  The noun INSULT has 2 senses:

1. a rude expression intended to offend or hurt

2. a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect

  Familiarity information: INSULT used as a noun is rare.

• INSULT (verb)
  The verb INSULT has 1 sense:

1. treat, mention, or speak to rudely

  Familiarity information: INSULT used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• INSULT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A rude expression intended to offend or hurt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

abuse; contumely; insult; revilement; vilification

Context example:

they yelled insults at the visiting team

Hypernyms ("insult" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "insult"):

low blow (unscrupulous abuse)

billingsgate; scurrility (foul-mouthed or obscene abuse)

cut; stinger (a remark capable of wounding mentally)

invective; vitriol; vituperation (abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will)

Derivation:

insult (treat, mention, or speak to rudely)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

affront; insult

Context example:

turning his back on me was a deliberate insult

Hypernyms ("insult" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; offence; offense; offensive activity (a lack of politeness; a failure to show regard for others; wounding the feelings or others)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "insult"):

indignity (an affront to one's dignity or self-esteem)

outrage; scandalisation; scandalization (the act of scandalizing)

Derivation:

insult (treat, mention, or speak to rudely)

• INSULT (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they insult ... he / she / it insults
Past simple: insulted   
Past participle: insulted   
-ing form: insulting   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Treat, mention, or speak to rudely

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

affront; diss; insult

Context example:

the student who had betrayed his classmate was dissed by everyone

Hypernyms (to "insult" is one way to...):

bruise; hurt; injure; offend; spite; wound (hurt the feelings of)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence examples:

Sam cannot insult Sue
The performance is likely to insult Sue

Derivation:

insult (a deliberately offensive act or something producing the effect of deliberate disrespect)

insult (a rude expression intended to offend or hurt)

 Context examples 

Why, man, I could insult you by asking you to have something to eat.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

I shall not say another word about this business, since you have chosen to insult me.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Amy bridled up at this insult, and determined to find out the secret, if she teased for an hour.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

You—you insult me, Mr. Holmes.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

It took Johansen, insulting and reviling the poor wretch, fully ten minutes to get him started again.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

"Upon my word, sir," I cried, angrily, "you take very great liberties! I have never been so insulted in my life."

(The Lost World, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Accustomed to John Reed's abuse, I never had an idea of replying to it; my care was how to endure the blow which would certainly follow the insult.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Examining a device for problems resulting from transient physical insults such as dropping or shaking the device.

(Device Shock Testing Evaluation Method, Food and Drug Administration)

He said a man was not to be insulted, then.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

But though Mrs. Ferrars DID come to see them, and always treated them with the make-believe of decent affection, they were never insulted by her real favour and preference.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)