Vocabulary in context
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Insolent
Extremely rude to someone; insulting in speech or conduct; showing a bold lack of respect.
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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, 'It’s not me! There is an ant in my shoe’s 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 boy’s mother a giant hard shoe sole to punish her son with; and from that day on, when the boy’s mother showed him the sole of the shoe, he was speechless and did what he was told.
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Sounds Like
IN-suh-luhnt
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Looks Like
sole-lent
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Remember This
Insolent comes from Latin insolent-, insolens, meaning unaccustomed or shameless. The modern sense emphasizes behavior that is boldly disrespectful.
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Other Forms
insolencenoun
insolentlyadverb
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Connect With
disrespectful, impudent, impertinent, brazen, audacious
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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.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- Her insolent reply shut down the conversation and earned her a stern warning.
- The waiter faced insolent remarks from a difficult customer.
Synonyms
rudeimpudentimpertinentbrazenaudacious
Antonyms
politerespectfulcivil
Etymology
From Latin insolent-, insolens 'unaccustomed, shameless', from in- 'not' + solere 'to be accustomed' via French insolent.
Mnemonic
Mnemonic: IN-SO-LE-NT — imagine an insole with a rude ant sitting in it; the image helps recall that insolent means rude and disrespectful.
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Bombast
nounPompous, inflated speech or writing that is meant to impress but often lacks substance.
Uneven
adjectiveNot level or smooth; lacking uniformity in form, texture, or distribution, and can also describe inconsistent or irregular performance.
Fallacious
adjectiveDeceptive; based on or characterized by a fallacy; likely to mislead.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Audacious
adjectiveDaring; bold or impudently bold.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
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