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in·stru·men·tal adjective 1 : acting as a crucial agent or means

2 : of, relating to, or done with an instrument

3 : relating to, composed for, or performed on a musical instrument

in·stru·men·tal·ist noun : a player on a musical instrument

in·stru·men·tal·i·ty noun, plural -ties 1 : the quality or state of being instrumental

2 : something useful or helpful to a desired end : MEANS, AGENCY

Synonyms

agency, agent, instrument, machinery, means, medium, organ, vehicle—more at AGENT

in·stru·men·ta·tion noun 1 : ORCHESTRATION

2 : instruments for a particular purpose

instrument panel noun : DASHBOARD

in·sub·or·di·nate adjective : disobedient to authority

in·sub·or·di·na·tion noun : the quality or state of being insubordinate : defiance of authority

Synonyms

defiance, disobedience, rebelliousness, recalcitrance, refractoriness, unruliness—more at DISOBEDIENCE

in·sub·stan·tial adjective 1 : lacking substance or reality

2 : lacking firmness or solidity

Synonyms

flimsy, gauzy, unsubstantial—more at FLIMSY

in·suf·fer·able adjective : not to be endured : INTOLERABLE

— in·suf·fer·ably adverb

Synonyms

insupportable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable, unsupportable—more at UNBEARABLE

in·suf·fi·cien·cy noun : the quality or state of being insufficient: as

a : lack of mental or moral fitness

b : lack of adequate supply

Synonyms

dearth, deficiency, deficit, failure, famine, inadequacy, lack, paucity, poverty, scantiness, scarcity, shortage, want—more at DEFICIENCY

in·suf·fi·cient adjective : not sufficient

— in·suf·fi·cient·ly adverb

Synonyms

deficient, inadequate, scarce, short, shy, wanting—more at SHORT

in·su·lar adjective 1 : of, relating to, or forming an island

2 : dwelling or situated on an island

3 : being, having, or reflecting a narrow provincial viewpoint : NARROW-MINDED

— in·su·lar·i·ty noun

Synonyms

little, narrow, narrow-minded, parochial, petty, provincial, sectarian, small—more at NARROW

in·su·late verb -lat·ed; -lat·ing [ORIGIN: L insula island]

1 : to place in a detached situation : ISOLATE

2 : to separate a conductor of electricity, heat, or sound from other conducting bodies by means of a nonconductor

— in·su·la·tor noun

Synonyms

cut off, isolate, seclude, segregate, separate, sequester—more at ISOLATE

in·su·la·tion noun 1 a : the action of insulating

b : the state of being insulated

2 : material used in insulating

Synonyms

isolation, seclusion, segregation, sequestration, solitude—more at ISOLATION

in·su·lin noun : a pancreatic hormone essential esp. for the metabolism of carbohydrates and the regulation of glucose in the blood

1insult verb [ORIGIN: MF or L; MF insulter, fr. L insultare, lit., to spring upon, fr. saltare to leap]

: to treat with insolence or contempt : AFFRONT

— in·sult·ing·ly adverb

Synonyms

affront, offend, outrage, slight, wound; also cut, snub; displease, distress, disturb, hurt, pain, trouble, upset; jeer, mock, ridicule, sneer (at), taunt; defame, disparage, libel, malign, revile, slander, slur, smear; oppress, persecute, torment, torture

2insult noun : a gross indignity

Synonyms

affront, barb, dart, dig, indignity, name, offense, outrage, put-down, sarcasm, slight, slur, wound; also gibe, jeer, sneer, taunt; abuse, invective, vituperation; disapproval, opprobrium; disgrace, dishonor, shame; attack, criticism, slam; torment, torture

in·su·per·a·ble adjective : incapable of being surmounted, overcome, passed over, or solved

— in·su·per·a·bly adverb

in·sup·port·able adjective 1 : more than can be endured : UNENDURABLE

2 : UNJUSTIFIABLE

Synonyms

insufferable, intolerable, unbearable, unendurable, unsupportable—more at UNBEARABLE

in·sur·able adjective : capable of being or proper to be insured

in·sur·ance noun 1 : the business of insuring persons or property

2 : coverage by contract whereby one party agrees to guarantee another against a specified loss

3 : the sum for which something is insured

4 : a