Lewis & Short

insulsus, a, um, adj. [2. in-salsus], unsalted, insipid.

  1. I. Lit.: amurcā insulsā perfundunt sulcos, Col. 2, 9: gula, that longs for tasteless things, Cic. Att. 13, 31, 4.
    Comp.: cibus insulsior, Hier. Ep. 22, 40.
  2. II. Trop.
    1. A. Bungling, awkward: Tyndaris illa bipennem insulsam et fatuam dextra laevaque tenebat, Juv. 6, 658.
    2. B. Tasteless, insipid, silly, absurd: non insulsum huic ingeniumst, Plaut. Mil. 4, 2, 79: est etiam in verbo positum non insulsum genus (ridiculi), Cic. de Or. 2, 64: multa (in sermone) nec illitterata, nec insulsa esse videntur, id. Fam. 9, 16: adulescens, id. Cael. 29: acuti, nec insulsi hominis sententia, id. Tusc. 1, 8.
      Sup.: insulsissimus homo, Cat. 17, 12.
      As subst.: insulsae, ārum, f. (sc mulieres), silly creatures, Cic. Att. 9, 10, 2.
      Adv.: insulsē, tastelessly, insipidly, foolishly, absurdly: aliquid facere, Cic. Att. 15, 4: insulse, arroganter dicere, id. ib. 5, 10: non insulse interpretari, not amiss, not badly, id. de Or. 2, 54.
      Comp.: nihil potest dici insulsius, Gell. 16, 12.
      Sup.: haec etiam addit insulsissime, Gell. 12, 2, 6.