Which term describes the use of words to threaten, embarrass, or insult a person?

• A. Verbal abuse
• B. Emotional abuse
• C. Verbal threats
• D. Economic abuse

Answer: (C)

Verbal abuse describes using words to threaten, embarrass, or insult someone. It’s a form of emotional abuse where language is used to harm a person’s self-esteem and to exert power or control. Threats of harm are part of verbal abuse, but insults and humiliation are included as well, making it the broad label for this pattern of harmful communication. Economic abuse focuses on controlling finances, and emotional abuse is the wider category that includes various controlling behaviors beyond just words.