verbal assault

noun

Often used other than figuratively or idiomatically: an assault that is verbal.

Ask AI about this wordChatGPTClaudePerplexityGoogle AIGrok

Meanings

nounverbal assault (plural verbal assaults)

plural verbal assaults

  1. Often used other than figuratively or idiomatically: an assault that is verbal.
  2. USlawOral or written speech that creates, or is intended to create, a fear of physical harm.

    Any student in grades six or above who commits a verbal assault against any school employee, volunteer, or contractor will be suspended or expelled. […]

    2009, Laingsburg Elementary School, Student Handbook 2009-2010, page 14
    2 more examples

    If a pupil enrolled in grade six or above committed a verbal assault at school against school personnel, described above, and the assault were reported to the school board by the victim, the school board or its designee would be required, after affording the required due process, to suspend the pupil from the school district for 10 days. […]

    1998, Michigan Senate Fiscal Agency, S.B. 313 (S-1), First Analysis: Student Expulsion for Assault, page 2

    The only evidence of a verbal assault is the one Mr. Comstock and Mr. Solomon made on me. They made their threatening and intimidating statement to me after I complied with directions Judge Jeff B. Clark gave during the September 17,2007 hearing.

    2008, Victoria Laney, testimony to the Florida House Committee on Condominiums & Homeowners Association Governance http://www.myfloridahouse.gov/sections/Documents/loaddoc.aspx?PublicationType=Committees&CommitteeId=2436&Session=2008&DocumentType=Action%20Packets&FileName=Condo_%20Action_02_16_08%20%28OCR%29%20%20%20.pdf

Translations

Chinese Mandarin 口頭攻擊 /口头攻击
  • 口頭攻擊 /口头攻击 (kǒutóu gōngjí)oral or written speech that creates a fear of physical harm
Finnish sanallinen hyökkäys
  • sanallinen hyökkäysoral or written speech that creates a fear of physical harm
French abus verbal, aggression verbale
  • abus verbaloral or written speech that creates a fear of physical harm
  • aggression verbaleoral or written speech that creates a fear of physical harm
  • attaque verbaleoral or written speech that creates a fear of physical harm
Greek λεκτική επίθεση
  • λεκτική επίθεση (lektikí epíthesi)oral or written speech that creates a fear of physical harm
Cite this entry
APA

verbal assault. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/verbal%20assault

MLA

“verbal assault.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/verbal%20assault. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “verbal assault,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/verbal%20assault.

Source: verbal assault on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.