in·sult·ing
in-ˈsəl-tiŋ
: giving or intended to give offense : being or containing an insult (see insult entry 2 sense 1)
Without the wit, of course, such sentiments would be construed as deeply insulting …—The American Scholar
… pasted insulting bumper stickers on their vehicles …—James A. Michener
… considered the proposal so impracticable as to be insulting.—Alice Adams
The book is "dumbed down" to an almost insulting level.—Joel Bangilan
insultingly
adverb
But always his triumphs are the triumphs of a highly sensitive man: a man must feel insults before he can so insultingly and splendidly avenge them.
—G. K. Chesterton
He is a gifted preacher, fashioning sermons that are neither inaccessibly erudite nor insultingly shallow.
—Kevin Sack
insulting
2 of 2present participle of insult entry 1
Cite this Entry
“Insulting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/insulting. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.
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