insults
Words meant to wound
Insults are words or actions meant to offend, demean, or show disrespect toward someone.
The term covers everything from mild teasing to deeply hurtful verbal attacks.
She traded insults with her rival.
As a verb, to insult someone is to say or do something offensive to them.
An insult can also describe something inadequate or contemptuous: The low offer was an insult to his years of service.
Disdainful disregard
- disdainScornful disregard
- scornHostile dismissive feeling
- derisionContemptuous mockery
- mockeryScornful ridicule or travesty
ridicule · belittlement · disparagement · denigration · deprecation · insolence · impudence · irreverence
Insulting group label
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- put-downDisparaging remark
- name-callingHurling insults at others
- jibeAgree or correspond
taunt · jeer · sneer · barb · dig · crack · zinger · cutting remark
False statements harming reputation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
- calumnyMalicious false statement
aspersion · invective · vituperation · obloquy · revilement · denunciation · imputation · smear
Deliberate dismissive rejection
- slightMinor or thin
- affrontDeliberate public insult
- rebuffAbrupt, curt rejection
- brush-offAbrupt, dismissive rejection
cold shoulder · dismissal · disregard · exclusion · shunning · ostracism · backhanded compliment · condescension
contempt
Disdainful disregard
mockery · ridicule · belittlement · disparagement · denigration · deprecation · insolence · impudence · irreverence · flippancy
slur
Insulting group label
- epithetDescriptive tag for someone
- put-downDisparaging remark
- name-callingHurling insults at others
jibe · taunt · jeer · sneer · barb · dig · crack · zinger · cutting remark · cheap shot
defamation
False statements harming reputation
- slanderSpoken false defamation
- libelPrinted defamation
- vilificationAbusive condemnation of someone
calumny · aspersion · invective · vituperation · obloquy · revilement · denunciation · imputation · smear · character assassination
snub
Deliberate dismissive rejection
brush-off · cold shoulder · dismissal · disregard · exclusion · shunning · ostracism · backhanded compliment · condescension · patronizing
- disparagementdefame, denigrate, disparage, malign, slander
- jokesjokes, joke, puns, one-liners, pun
- provocationbaiting, goading, taunting, incitement, instigation
- red flagsred flags, warning signs, warning, caution, alarm
- social frictionbarbs, slights, jibes, snubs, digs
- social wrongsrudeness, lying, bullying, cheating, cruelty
insultscompliments
Expressions of admiration
praises · flattery · flatters · commendations · lauds
- 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