How many insults did Shakespeare use in his plays?

William Shakespeare used over 2,500 insults in his plays. These insults were often used for comedic effect, but they also served to highlight the character flaws of the individuals being insulted. Some of Shakespeare's most famous insults include:

- "Thou art as loathsome as a toad" (Romeo and Juliet)

- "Thou art a boil, a plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle in my corrupted blood" (King Lear)

- "Thou art a very shallow man, and thou art of a very low esteem" (The Taming of the Shrew)

- "Thou art as thick as a brick" (Hamlet)

- "Thou art as slow as a snail" (As You Like It)

Shakespeare's insults are often clever and witty, and they have been enjoyed by audiences for centuries.