in|sidi|ous / I ns I diəs/ ADJ Something that is insidious is unpleasant or dangerous and develops gradually without being noticed. □ The changes are insidious, and will not produce a noticeable effect for 15 to 20 years. ● in|sidi|ous|ly ADV [usu ADV adj] □ Delusions are sometimes insidiously destructive.
in|sight / I nsa I t/ (insights )
1 N‑VAR If you gain insight or an insight into a complex situation or problem, you gain an accurate and deep understanding of it. □ [+ into ] The project would give scientists new insights into what is happening to the Earth's atmosphere.
2 N‑UNCOUNT If someone has insight , they are able to understand complex situations. □ He was a man with considerable insight.
in|sight|ful / I nsa I tfʊl/ ADJ If you describe a person or their remarks as insightful , you mean that they show a very good understanding of people and situations. [APPROVAL ] □ She offered some really interesting, insightful observations.
in|sig|nia / I ns I gniə/ (insignia ) N‑COUNT An insignia is a design or symbol which shows that a person or object belongs to a particular organization, often a military one. □ [+ of ] The red star was the national insignia of the USSR.
in|sig|nifi|cance / I ns I gn I f I kəns/ N‑UNCOUNT Insignificance is the quality of being insignificant. □ The cost pales into insignificance when compared with the damage done to his reputation.
in|sig|nifi|cant / I ns I gn I f I kənt/ ADJ Something that is insignificant is unimportant, especially because it is very small. □ In 1949 Bonn was a small, insignificant city.
in|sin|cere / I ns I ns I ə r / ADJ If you say that someone is insincere , you are being critical of them because they say things they do not really mean, usually pleasant, admiring, or encouraging things. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Some people are so terribly insincere you can never tell if they are telling the truth. ● in|sin|cer|ity / I ns I nse r I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT □ Too many superlatives lend a note of insincerity.
in|sinu|ate / I ns I njue I t/ (insinuates , insinuating , insinuated )
1 VERB If you say that someone insinuates that something bad is the case, you mean that they say it in an indirect way. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V that] The libel claim followed an article which insinuated that the President was lying. [Also V n] ● in|sin|ua|tion / I ns I njue I ʃ ə n/ (insinuations ) N‑VAR □ He speaks with rage of insinuations that there's a 'gay mafia' in Hollywood.
2 VERB If you say that someone insinuates themselves into a particular situation, you mean that they manage very cleverly, and perhaps dishonestly, to get into that situation. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ [V pron-refl + into ] He gradually insinuated himself into her life. [Also V n prep]
in|sinu|at|ing / I ns I njue I t I ŋ/ ADJ If you describe someone's words or voice as insinuating , you mean that they are saying in an indirect way that something bad is the case. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ Marcus kept making insinuating remarks.
in|sip|id / I ns I p I d/
1 ADJ If you describe food or drink as insipid , you dislike it because it has very little taste. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ It tasted indescribably bland and insipid, like warmed cardboard.
2 ADJ If you describe someone or something as insipid , you mean they are dull and boring. [DISAPPROVAL ] □ On the surface she seemed meek, rather insipid.
in|sist ◆◆◇ / I ns I st/ (insists , insisting , insisted )
1 VERB If you insist that something should be done, you say so very firmly and refuse to give in about it. If you insist on something, you say firmly that it must be done or provided. □ [V that] My family insisted that I should not give in, but stay and fight. □ [V + on ] She insisted on being present at all the interviews. □ [V ] I didn't want to join in, but Kenneth insisted.
2 VERB If you insist that something is the case, you say so very firmly and refuse to say otherwise, even though other people do not believe you. □ [V that] The president insisted that he was acting out of compassion, not opportunism. □ [V with quote] 'It's not that difficult,' she insists. □ [V + on ] Crippen insisted on his innocence.
in|sist|ence / I ns I stəns/ N‑UNCOUNT [N that] Someone's insistence on something is the fact that they insist that it should be done or insist that it is the case. □ …Raeder's insistence that naval uniform be worn. [Also + on ]
in|sist|ent / I ns I stənt/
1 ADJ [oft ADJ that] Someone who is insistent keeps insisting that a particular thing should be done or is the case. □ Stalin was insistent that the war would be won and lost in the machine shops. [Also + on ] ● in|sist|ent|ly ADV [ADV with v] □ 'What is it?' his wife asked again, gently but insistently.
2 ADJ An insistent noise or rhythm keeps going on for a long time and holds your attention. □ …the insistent rhythms of the Caribbean and Latin America.
in situ / I n s I tjuː, [AM ] - s I tuː/ ADV [ADV after v] If something remains in situ , especially while something is done to it, it remains where it is. [FORMAL ] □ Major works of painting, sculpture, mosaic and architecture were examined in situ in Venice. ● ADJ [ADJ n] In situ is also an adjective. □ …technical data derived from laboratory and in-situ experimentation.
in|so|far as / I nsəfɑː r əz/ PHRASE You use insofar as to introduce a statement which explains and adds to something you have just said. [FORMAL ] □ Looking back helps insofar as it helps you learn from your mistakes.
in|sole / I nsoʊl/ (insoles ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] The insoles of a pair of shoes are the soft layer of material inside each one, which the soles of your feet rest on.