Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

insolent

/ˈɪn.sə.lənt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 2.74 in modern English

Syllables: in-so-lent
IPA: /ˈɪn.sə.lənt/

8

Scrabble Score

8

Letters

3

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Insulting in manner or words, particularly in an arrogant or insubordinate manner.

adj

noun

A person who is insolent.

Example Sentences

"Near-synonyms: arrogant, bold, cocky; see also Thesaurus:cheeky"
"Near-synonyms: insubordinate, offensive; see also Thesaurus:arrogant"
"insolent behaviour"
"insolent child"
"insolent remark"
"“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,[…]!”"

Etymology

PIE word *swé From Middle English, from Old French, from Latin īnsolēns (“unaccustomed, unwanted, unusual, immoderate, excessive, arrogant, insolent”), from in- (privative prefix) + solēns, present participle of solēre (“to be accustomed, to be wont”).

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *dʰeh₁-, -, īnsolēns

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈɪn.sə.lənt/
British English: /ˈɪn.sə.lənt/

Inflected Forms

more insolent (comparative) most insolent (superlative) insolents (plural)

Derived Forms

insolently insolentness overinsolent

Frequently Paired Words

insolence insolency

Synonyms

impudent arrogant bold cocky audacious get wise bold-faced bold as brass brassy malapert brazen brazen-faced

Questions

How do you pronounce insolent?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈɪn.sə.lənt/.
What does insolent mean?: Insulting in manner or words, particularly in an arrogant or insubordinate manner.
Where does insolent come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce insolent

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “insolent”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈɪn.sə.lənt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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