Synonyms for insult
- noun
- verb
Most common
affront put-down slur provocation outrage disparagement abuse
Synonyms by meaning
Noun
1. Affront — action or form of speech deliberately intended to be rude; (countable) a particular act or statement having…
affront, put-down, offense US, offence UK, slur, provocation, discourtesy, slight, pejorative, slam informal US, barb, wound, spite, disparage, diss slang, insultation dated
2. Outrage — something that causes offence (for example, by being of an unacceptable quality)
outrage, disparagement, disgrace, shame, dishonor US, dishonour UK, indignity, scandal, obloquy, defame, aspersion, reproach, opprobrium, libel, ignominy
3. Abuse
abuse, vilification, trauma, contumely, revilement, defamation
Other
Verb
1. Disrespect — to be insensitive, insolent, or rude to (somebody); to affront or demean (someone)
Definitions
- n. 1
Action or form of speech deliberately intended to be rude; (countable) a particular act or statement having this effect.
- n. 2
Something that causes offence (for example, by being of an unacceptable quality).
The way the orchestra performed tonight was an insult to my ears.
- v. 1
To be insensitive, insolent, or rude to (somebody); to affront or demean (someone).
Related words
- Word family
- insultive insultory insolence insultation
Choose the right word
To affront is to offer some defiant offense or indignity, as it were, to one's face; it is somewhat less than to insult.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- provocation She lost her temper at the slightest provocation.
- slur His sexist slur was broadcasted across the country.
- affront The coup d'etat in Brazil is an affront to democracy.
- outrage The illegal dump in the park is a source of outrage.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| insult | rising | |
| provocation | steady | |
| slur | rising | |
| affront | rising | |
| discourtesy | falling | |
| outrage | rising |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 4 letters
- slam1, mock1, barb1, slur1, slag1, diss1, jibe1, jeer1, gibe1
- 5 letters
- abuse2, shame1, wound1, spite1, libel2, scorn1, taunt1, scoff1, sneer1, flout1, fleer1
- 6 letters
- slight1, trauma2, offend2, injure2, defame2, deride2, debase2
- 7 letters
- offense2, scandal2, offence, outrage2, provoke2, slander2, affront2, obloquy3
- 8 letters
- disgrace2, ridicule3, dishonor3, reproach2, ignominy4
- 9 letters
- dishonour, disparage3, indignity4, aspersion3, contumely
- 10 letters
- disrespect3, defamation4, pejorative4, opprobrium4, revilement
- 11 letters
- provocation4, discourtesy, insultation
- 12 letters
- vilification5
- 13 letters
- disparagement
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (abuse2 = 2 syllables).