insolent

English

Etymology

From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin insolens (“unaccustomed, unwanted, unusual, immoderate, excessive, arrogant, insolent”), from in- (“priv.”) + solens, present participle of solere (“to be accustomed, to be wont”).

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA: /ɪnˈsə.lənt/, X-SAMPA: /In"s@.l@nt/
• (US) IPA: /ˈɪnsə.lənt/

Adjective

insolent (comparative more insolent, superlative most insolent)

1. Insulting in manner or words.
2. Rude.
   • 1907, Robert Chambers, chapter 6, The Younger Set^[1]:

     “I don't mean all of your friends—only a small proportion—which, however, connects your circle with that deadly, idle, brainless bunch—the insolent chatterers at the opera, the gorged dowagers, […] the chlorotic squatters on huge yachts, the speed-mad fugitives from the furies of ennui, the neurotic victims of mental cirrhosus, … !”

3. Cheeky.

Synonyms

• insulting: arrogant, bold, cocky, impudent
• rude: disrespectful, impertinent, insubordinate, offensive
• See also Wikisaurus:cheeky
• See also Wikisaurus:arrogant

Related terms

• insolence
• insolency
• insolently

Translations

insulting in manner or words

• Dutch: brutaal (nl)
• Hungarian: szemtelen (hu), pökhendi (hu)
• Interlingua: insolente
• Italian: insolente m and f

• Latin: insolens (la)
• Polish: bezczelny (pl) m
• Portuguese: insolente m and f
• Russian: вызывающий (ru) (vyzyvajuščij)

rude

• Dutch: brutaal (nl)
• Hungarian: arcátlan, pimasz
• Interlingua: insolente

• Italian: insolente m and f
• Polish: niegrzeczny (pl) m, chamski (pl) m
• Portuguese: insolente m and f

External links

• insolent in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• insolent in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• insolent at OneLook Dictionary Search