
Insolent
Extremely rude to someone; insulting in speech or conduct; showing a bold lack of respect.
adjectiveInsolent
Extremely rude to someone; insulting in speech or conduct; showing a bold lack of respect.
adjective
Imagine This
There is an ant in your shoe sole and it makes you very uncomfortable. Your mom asks why you keep stamping rudely, so you reply, 'Itβs not me! There is an ant in my shoeβs sole!' Once there was a rude and wild boy who made trouble everywhere he went and his mother watched in vain until one day her aunt lent the boyβs mother a giant hard shoe sole to punish her son with; and from that day on, when the boyβs mother showed him the sole of the shoe, he was speechless and did what he was told.
Sounds Like
IN-suh-luhnt
Looks Like
sole-lent
Remember This
Insolent comes from Latin insolent-, insolens, meaning unaccustomed or shameless. The modern sense emphasizes behavior that is boldly disrespectful.
Other Forms
Connect With
disrespectful, impudent, impertinent, brazen, audacious
Note
Insolent describes conduct or speech that is disrespectfully bold; it is stronger than merely rude or impolite. The noun is insolence and the adverb is insolently.
