insolence
/ˈɪns(ə)l(ə)ns
/ /ˈɪnsəl(ə)ns/ /ˈɪnsələns/noun [mass noun]
Rude and disrespectful behaviour: she was sacked for insolence...
- Where do they get the authority and encouragement to practise their childish, schoolyard insolence and contempt of our leaders?
- They helped us understand what we were up against: the proud man's contumely, the insolence of office.
- Perhaps it was a case of German insolence, a deliberate offense to Roman dignity.
Synonyms
impertinence, impudence, cheek, cheekiness, bad manners, ill-manneredness, unmannerliness, rudeness, impoliteness, incivility, lack of civility, discourtesy, discourteousness, disrespect, insubordination, contempt;
audacity, boldness, brazenness, brashness, pertness, forwardness, effrontery, gall, presumptuousness, presumption;
insults, abuse, offensiveness
informal brass, brass neck, neck, face, front, cockiness, freshness, backchat, bad-mouthing
British informal sauce
Scottish informal snash
North American informal chutzpah, sass, sassiness, nerviness
informal, dated hide, crust
archaic contumely, malapertness