Insulting describes words or actions that are deliberately rude or disrespectful and hurt someone's feelings or attack their dignity. An insulting remark might mock someone's appearance, belittle their abilities, or say mean things about something they care about. “That was an insulting comment about my project.”

Something insulting is different from honest criticism or accidental rudeness: it's meant to sting. An insult can be a direct attack, like calling someone stupid, or more subtle, like a backhanded compliment that sounds nice but actually contains a hidden jab. If someone says “You're pretty smart for someone who reads so slowly,” that's insulting because it pretends to praise while actually putting someone down.

People feel insulted when someone disrespects them, their work, their family, or their beliefs. What counts as insulting can vary by culture and context: joking around with close friends might include teasing that would be insulting coming from a stranger.

When someone insults you, responding with more insults usually makes things worse. People who regularly insult others may be trying to make themselves feel powerful by tearing someone else down.