Insult
An
insult (or "
term of disparagement") is a
statement or
action which is intended to affront or demean someone. Insults may be categorized as follows:
- Insult to intelligence
- Insult to education
- Insult to natural appearance
- Insult to behavior
- Insult via relatives
Profanity is frequently used as part of insults to strengthen their emotional impact.
The concept of fighting words has a definition in American Constitutional law. See terms of disparagement.
In medicine, insult is an alternative term for a lesion or injury, as in brain insult.