3 syllables: in, sult, ed. Stress on sult.
in-SUHL-tid
/ˌɪˈnsʌltɪd/
insulted is pronounced in-SUHL-tid (/ˌɪˈnsʌltɪd/). It has three syllables (in-sult-ed), with the stress on "sult". Insulted means made or felt offended or disrespected, typically through perceived criticism or disrespectful remarks. It often describes a reaction to an action or statement that wounds someone’s dignity. The past tense form emphasizes a completed act or ongoing impact, as in feeling insulted after what was said or done.
Insulted means made or felt offended or disrespected, typically through perceived criticism or disrespectful remarks. It often describes a reaction to an action or statement that wounds someone’s dignity. The past tense form emphasizes a completed act or ongoing impact, as in feeling insulted after what was said or done.
"She felt insulted by the rude comment about her work."
"He was insulted when his ideas were dismissed in the meeting."
"The letter insulted him, implying incompetence without reason."
Pronounce it as /ɪnˈsʌl.tɪd/. The primary stress sits on the second syllable: in-SULT-ed. The first syllable uses a short, lax /ɪ/ as in “pin,” the middle vowel is a clear /ʌ/ as in “strut,” and the final /ɪd/ or /ɪd/ cluster is light. Touch the tip of the tongue to the alveolar ridge for the /n/ and /s/ sequence, then drop quickly into /ʌ/ before the /l/ and the final /t/ before a light /d/. Practice saying “in + sult + ed” with even tempo; the /t/ may be released softly in natural connected speech.
Common errors include stressing the wrong syllable (in SULT-ed), reducing the middle /ʌ/ to a schwa, and confusing the final -ed with /s/ or /ɪd/. Correction: keep the primary stress on the second syllable: /ɪnˈsʌl.tɪd/. Ensure the /t/ is released clearly before the final /d/; in fast speech the /t/ can become a flap or a quick stop, so practice with a full release then a softer ending to sound natural.
In US/UK/AU, the core is /ɪnˈsʌl.tɪd/. US often has a rhotic r coloration only if followed by a vowel elsewhere; here it’s not rhotic. UK tends to crisper consonants and slightly more clipped /t/. Australian may be a lighter touch on the final /d/ and a milder vowel /ʌ/. Overall, the main stress stays on syllable two, but vowel quality and consonant strength subtly shift by speaker and region.
The challenge lies in maintaining the two-syllable rhythm with a clear but not exaggerated secondary stress and achieving the /ʌ/ in the stressed syllable while not lengthening the following /l/ or diluting the /t/ before the final /d/. Additionally, avoiding a heavy or clipped /t/ in rapid speech requires practice with a smooth transition from /l/ to /t/. Clear articulation of the final /d/ helps prevent it blurring with a prior vowel.
No silent letters in standard American or British pronunciation, and the stress pattern is regular: in-SULT-ed with primary stress on syllable two. The difficulty is not silent letters but maintaining accurate vowel sound and a natural /t/ release in connected speech. Some rapid speech can soften the /t/; aim for a light, audible release to preserve clarity.
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Insulted derives from the verb insult, which comes from the Old French insultier, meaning to leap or insult, from in- (into) + solter (to leap, spring). The English usage evolved in the 16th–17th centuries to mean “to affront or demean,” closely tied to social affronts and personal reputation. The root insult traces further back to Latin insultare, from in- (upon) + saltare (to jump), originally describing stepping upon someone’s toes or stepping into someone’s space—a metaphor for offensive behavior. By the 17th century, insult had broadened to verbal affronts, with insulted as the past participle capturing a completed act of affront or the resultant emotional state. First known uses appear in early modern English texts describing social impropriety and rude conduct, often within courtly or literary contexts, and gradually extended to general everyday language as social norms and etiquette crystallized around interpersonal communication. Today, insulted retains both the sense of offense caused by speech or action and the emotional consequence of feeling affronted, whether the offense is perceived as intentional or negligent, with pronunciation stabilized in modern English as /ɪnˈsʌltɪd/ in General American and /ɪnˈsʌltɪd/ similarly in UK usage.
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Words that rhyme with "insulted"
-ted sounds
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