insult
Cutting remark delivered
An insult is a remark or action intended to offend or demean: She hurled insults at him.
To insult someone is to treat them with such disrespect.
The word carries a sense of deliberate affront—accidents aren't insults.
Adding insult to injury means compounding harm with humiliation.
In medicine, an insult is damage to tissue: a cardiac insult.
Insulting group label
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- jabQuick, straight blow
- digUnearth by shoveling
- barbBackward-pointing spike
put-down · cheap shot · crack · slight · snipe · cut · slam · zinger
Insulting provocation
antagonize · aggravate · rile · inflame · incite · egg on · get a rise · push buttons
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- aspersionDefamatory remark
- calumnyMalicious false statement
smear · vilification · character assassination · mudslinging · traducement · denigration · disparagement · obloquy
Minor or thin
- indignityHumiliating or degrading treatment
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- discourtesyRude or impolite behavior
- incivilityRude or impolite behavior
impudence · insolence · irreverence · contempt · disdain · scorn · derision · disregard
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- satireMockery exposing vice
- lampoonHarsh public mockery
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
- parodySatirical imitation
sarcasm · irony · snark · roast · send-up · burlesque · travesty · takedown
Fierce moral indignation
- indignationAnger from mistreatment
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
- angerIntense hostile emotion
hurt · wounded · stung · affronted · umbrage · pique · bruised ego · thin-skinned
Decline in condition
- disgraceLoss of honor
- dishonorLoss of respect
- abasementState of being lowered
- mortificationIntense shame or embarrassment
shame · embarrassment · chagrin · stigma · ignominy · opprobrium · debasement · subjugation
slur
Insulting group label
barb · put-down · cheap shot · crack · slight · snipe · cut · slam · zinger · diss
taunt
Insulting provocation
provoke · antagonize · aggravate · rile · inflame · incite · egg on · get a rise · push buttons · wind up
slander
Spoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- defamationFalse statements harming reputation
- aspersionDefamatory remark
calumny · smear · vilification · character assassination · mudslinging · traducement · denigration · disparagement · obloquy · invective
slight
Minor or thin
- indignityHumiliating or degrading treatment
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- discourtesyRude or impolite behavior
incivility · impudence · insolence · irreverence · contempt · disdain · scorn · derision · disregard · snub
ridicule
Contemptuous mocking treatment
- satireMockery exposing vice
- lampoonHarsh public mockery
- caricatureExaggerated comic depiction
parody · sarcasm · irony · snark · roast · send-up · burlesque · travesty · takedown · spoof
outrage
Fierce moral indignation
- indignationAnger from mistreatment
- offenseViolation or umbrage
- resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
anger · hurt · wounded · stung · affronted · umbrage · pique · bruised ego · thin-skinned · bristle
degradation
Decline in condition
mortification · shame · embarrassment · chagrin · stigma · ignominy · opprobrium · debasement · subjugation · demoralization
- social interactiongreeting, hello, goodbye, hi, bye
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- individual actskindness, generosity, bravery, courage, charity
- remarksremark, comment, statement, observation, note
- social wrongsrudeness, disrespect, lying, bullying, cheating
- tauntstaunts, taunt, taunting, neener neener, in your face
insultcompliment
Words expressing approval
praise · flattery · commendation · acclaim · tribute
- add insult to injuryWorsen harm with mockery
- insult to injuryWorsening an already bad situation
- added insult to injuryAggravated harm with disrespect
- hurl insults
- playground insult
- veiled insultCovert disparagement
insulting, insulted, insults, insultingly, insulter, insulters, counterinsult