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Insulting vs Complimentary - What's the difference?

insulting | complimentary |

As adjectives the difference between insulting and complimentary

is that insulting is containing insult, or having the intention of insulting while complimentary is in the nature of a compliment.

As a verb insulting

is .

As a noun insulting

is the act of giving insult.

insulting

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Containing insult, or having the intention of insulting.
    • He received an insulting letter.

    Derived terms

    * insultingly

    Verb

    (head)

    • Noun

    (en noun)
  • The act of giving insult.
  • * (Isaac Barrow)
    • grievous reproaches, and scornful insultings over him in his affliction

    Anagrams

    *

    complimentary

    English

    (wikipedia complimentary)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • In the nature of a compliment.
  • * , The Letters of Mark Twain, Vol. 3 (published 2004) p. 56.
    • But yesterday evening late, when Lewis arrived from down town he found his supper spread, and some presents of books there, with very complimentary' writings on the fly-leaves, and certain very ' complimentary letters, and more or less greenbacks of dignified denomination pinned to those letters and fly-leaves...
  • Free; provided at no charge.
  • * Vivien Lougheed, Belize Pocket Adventures (2005), p. 65.
    • In the evenings, Ward and PJ offer guests a complimentary drink. This gesture seems to reinforce the hosts' desire to make everyone feel welcome.
  • With respect to the closing of a letter, formal and professional.
  • * Richard H. Beatty, The Perfect Cover Letter (2003).
    • The complimentary closing is the word grouping used to bring the message or text to a close.

    Usage notes

    * Complimentary and complementary are frequently confused and misused in place of one another.

    Antonyms

    * uncomplimentary

    Derived terms

    * complimentarily * complimentariness