Verbal abuse involves making negative, defining statements about a person or withholding responses to diminish their presence. Essentially, it means belittling, insulting, or patronizing someone, or gossiping behind their back.

When the abuser fails to apologize or retract their harmful statements, the relationship may be characterized by verbal abuse. Such abuse is often driven by underlying anger, which fuels and sustains the abusive behavior.

In schools and everyday life, verbal abuse, often accompanied by physical bullying, serves to elevate the abuser's status over their target and to rally others against the victim. Typically, the bully may not know any other way to connect with others emotionally.