insolent

2 of 2

noun

Synonym Chooser

How does the adjective insolent differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of insolent are arrogant, disdainful, haughty, lordly, overbearing, proud, and supercilious. While all these words mean "showing scorn for inferiors," insolent implies contemptuous haughtiness.

ignored by an insolent waiter

When could arrogant be used to replace insolent?

The synonyms arrogant and insolent are sometimes interchangeable, but arrogant implies a claiming for oneself of more consideration or importance than is warranted.

a conceited and arrogant executive

When can disdainful be used instead of insolent?

The words disdainful and insolent are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, disdainful suggests a more active and openly scornful superciliousness.

disdainful of their social inferiors

When might haughty be a better fit than insolent?

While the synonyms haughty and insolent are close in meaning, haughty suggests a consciousness of superior birth or position.

a haughty aristocrat

When is lordly a more appropriate choice than insolent?

While in some cases nearly identical to insolent, lordly implies pomposity or an arrogant display of power.

a lordly condescension

In what contexts can overbearing take the place of insolent?

The meanings of overbearing and insolent largely overlap; however, overbearing suggests a tyrannical manner or an intolerable insolence.

an overbearing supervisor

Where would proud be a reasonable alternative to insolent?

The words proud and insolent can be used in similar contexts, but proud may suggest an assumed superiority or loftiness.

too proud to take charity

When would supercilious be a good substitute for insolent?

Although the words supercilious and insolent have much in common, supercilious implies a cool, patronizing haughtiness.

an aloof and supercilious manner

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of insolent
Noun
Parthenope is inscrutable yet expressive, insolent yet heroic, magnetic yet unattainable, loving yet selfish. Mike Miller, EW.com, 12 Feb. 2025 The officers weren't rude, angry, or insolent — as required of a battery conviction — and used their training and legal authority to do their jobs. Ryan Murphy, The Indianapolis Star, 2 Dec. 2024 Her subversive and dominating personality, and sometimes insolent rhetoric in her active X presence set her apart from the likes of other female AI chatbots, such as Siri whose aim is to assist and serve. Fatemeh Fannizadeh, Forbes, 18 Oct. 2024 Bullock’s John Hotham is forced to manage an uprising of rogue military personal and armed insurgents on a semi-fictional January 6, 2025 that makes the real-life January 6, 2021 seem like insolent child’s play. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 June 2024 See All Example Sentences for insolent
Recent Examples of Synonyms for insolent
Adjective
  • Gemma reluctantly agrees to rebuild her impudent robot in a new body, and the sequel ends with an explosive showdown between Amelia and M3GAN, who nearly dies in a noble attempt to save Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).
    Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 29 June 2025
  • One chord appears to speak to the other, sounding almost impudent in their simplicity, equal parts ecstatic and heartbreakingly melancholic.
    Sam Davies, Rolling Stone, 10 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Weaver, the California waterfowl coordinator, said others were likely brought in the past few years to chase away Canada geese that have increasingly become a nuisance at parks and golf courses.
    CalMatters, Mercury News, 14 Aug. 2025
  • The presence of drones has caused alarm in communities—and the buzzing noise has sometimes become a nuisance.
    Jessica Mathews, Fortune, 6 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • But for VCs like me, the wisest choice right now is to back the startups making healthcare systems more proactive, preventative, and fair – for everyone.
    Check Warner MBE, Forbes.com, 8 Aug. 2025
  • That caution proved wise, as the photos of young Mohammad turned out to be highly misleading.
    Seth Mandel, The Washington Examiner, 8 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Evil is insolent and strong; beauty enchanting but rare; goodness very apt to be weak; folly very apt to be defiant; wickedness to carry the day; imbeciles to be in great places, people of sense in small, and mankind generally unhappy.
    Sam Sacks, WSJ, 18 Nov. 2016
  • Hard to accept that these imbeciles represent the people in our government.
    Kelefa Sanneh, The New Yorker, 5 Feb. 2016
Adjective
  • Cops released images Wednesday of a black 2012 Nissan Sentra involved in a Bronx double murder, hoping to track down seven people still at large in the brazen shootings on a desolate street in late July.
    Nicholas Williams, New York Daily News, 6 Aug. 2025
  • That is quite a brazen ROI calculation and deserves more public discourse.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2025
Noun
  • Kids were treated to pizza, brats, a fun game of kickball and gospel music.
    La Risa R. Lynch, jsonline.com, 7 Aug. 2025
  • These pop-punk princes were green brats long before the 365 party girl.
    Ana Gutierrez, Austin American Statesman, 2 July 2025
Adjective
  • Marty Supreme stars Timothée Chalamet as a cocky playboy ping-pong player, and that’s not even the most interesting part.
    Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Aug. 2025
  • Hero Ellen Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) lonely fight for survival gave way to a military mission to vanquish aliens ravaging a human colony; Cameron filled the frame with cocky Marines, boxy space tanks, and an adorable orphan who finds in Ripley a surrogate mother.
    Judy Berman, Time, 5 Aug. 2025
Adjective
  • The bold infrastructure plan commanded multiple articles on the front page.
    Jennifer Brett, Nashville Tennessean, 17 Aug. 2025
  • This collection hits hard with satin bombers, pullover windbreakers, bold navy and orange team colors, and all the vintage Starter flair that defined a generation of sideline style.
    Kilty Cleary, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Aug. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Insolent.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/insolent. Accessed 23 Aug. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on insolent

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!