insulting
Causing deep offense
Insulting describes words or actions that offend someone's dignity or self-respect.
An insulting remark demeans or belittles: He made insulting comments about her intelligence.
Something can be insulting even without intent—an insulting job offer is one so low it feels like a slap: They offered me an insulting salary.
Falsely damaging to reputation
- libelousFalsely damaging someone's reputation
- disparagingExpressing negative judgment
- denigratoryUnfairly critical in nature
- vilifyingMaliciously disparaging someone
maligning · smearing · calumnious · traducing · mudslinging · character assassination · backbiting · scandalous
Expressing contemptuous ridicule
- scornfulShowing open contempt
- tauntingInsulting to provoke
- jeeringVocal public mockery
- ridiculingMocking with contempt
sneering · scoffing · sardonic · sarcastic · snide · contemptuous · satirical · lampooning
Unpolished, raw state
- crassCrudely lacking refinement
- coarseRough in texture
- obsceneGrossly offensive to decency
- profaneIrreverent toward the sacred
foul-mouthed · offensive · lewd · indecent · boorish · uncouth · gross · tasteless
Dividing via sharp edge
- bitingHarshly critical or cold
- stingingCausing sharp pain
- woundingCausing physical injury
- scathingSeverely and bitingly critical
caustic · acerbic · barbed · piercing · lacerating · harsh · cruel · vicious
Treating someone as inferior
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
- diminishingBecoming progressively less
minimizing · trivializing · degrading · deprecating · talking down · sneering · pitying · infantilizing
Rudely presumptuous
- insolentBoldly rude and disrespectful
- disrespectfulShowing lack of regard
- impudentDisrespectfully bold
- cheekyPlayfully disrespectful
discourteous · impolite · brazen · brash · sassy · saucy · flippant · irreverent
Tending to provoke outrage
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
- needlingPersistent mild taunting
baiting · aggravating · confrontational · inciting · agitating · fomenting · challenging · prodding
slanderous
Falsely damaging to reputation
- libelousFalsely damaging someone's reputation
- disparagingExpressing negative judgment
- denigratoryUnfairly critical in nature
vilifying · maligning · smearing · calumnious · traducing · mudslinging · character assassination · backbiting · scandalous · scurrilous
derisive
Expressing contemptuous ridicule
ridiculing · sneering · scoffing · sardonic · sarcastic · snide · contemptuous · satirical · lampooning · parodying
crude
Unpolished, raw state
profane · foul-mouthed · offensive · lewd · indecent · boorish · uncouth · gross · tasteless · ribald
cutting
Dividing via sharp edge
scathing · caustic · acerbic · barbed · piercing · lacerating · harsh · cruel · vicious · brutal
patronizing
Treating someone as inferior
- condescendingSuperior and dismissive manner
- dismissiveShowing contemptuous disregard
- demeaningCausing loss of respect
diminishing · minimizing · trivializing · degrading · deprecating · talking down · sneering · pitying · infantilizing · supercilious
impertinent
Rudely presumptuous
- insolentBoldly rude and disrespectful
- disrespectfulShowing lack of regard
- impudentDisrespectfully bold
cheeky · discourteous · impolite · brazen · brash · sassy · saucy · flippant · irreverent · tactless
inflammatory
Tending to provoke outrage
- incendiaryCausing or designed for burning
- antagonizingDeliberately causing hostility
- goadingInciting through persistent pressure
needling · baiting · aggravating · confrontational · inciting · agitating · fomenting · challenging · prodding · stirring
- interactionstalking, sharing, greeting, helping, listening
- disrespectbelittling, demeaning, mocking, ridiculing, scorning
- hostile behaviorsattacking, bullying, fighting, harassing, hitting
- misconductmisconduct, bullying, stealing, vandalism, cheating
- offendingoffending, disrespecting, affronting, slighting, snubbing
- shamingshaming, humiliating, disgracing, dishonoring, degrading
insultingcomplimentary
Free or expressing praise
flattering · praising · laudatory · admiring · honoring
insultingrespectful
Showing proper regard
polite · deferential · courteous · gracious · civil
insultingrespectful
Showing proper regard
deferential · honoring · reverent · admiring · dignifying