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.

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In medicine, insult is an alternative term for a lesion or injury, as in brain insult.