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insolence

[ in-suh-luh ns ]

/ ˈɪn sə ləns /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR insolence ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

contemptuously rude or impertinent behavior or speech.

the quality or condition of being insolent.

Origin of insolence

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English word from Latin word insolentia. See insolent, -ence

OTHER WORDS FROM insolence

o·ver·in·so·lence, noun

Words nearby insolence

insofar as, insol., insolate, insolation, insole, insolence, insolent, insolubilize, insoluble, insolvable, insolvency

Example sentences from the Web for insolence

Their insolence, luxury, degeneracy had gone to great lengths.

History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.) |Thomas Carlyle
An incident, illustrative of his summary methods of dealing with the insolence of his enemies in authority, occurred at Pensacola.

The Battle of New Orleans |Zachary F. Smith
Perhaps silence was the best retort to her air of insolence.

The Honour of the Clintons |Archibald Marshall
It was insolence—brutal, overbearing insolence, with physical menace behind it.

The Croxley Master: A Great Tale Of The Prize Ring |Arthur Conan Doyle

The thing carries itself to my maturer and gratified sense as with every symptom of soundness, an insolence of health and joy.

The Awkward Age |Henry James