abuse/offend/insult

[mrwroc]

If someone named someone 'stupid', it means someone abused / offended / insulted / ... someone else?

Which word is the most popular and the less popular in that context?

 

[emsr2d2]

If someone [STRIKE]named[/STRIKE] called someone 'stupid', it means someone abused/offended/insulted ... someone else.

Which words [STRIKE]is[/STRIKE] are the most popular and the [STRIKE]less[/STRIKE] least popular in that context?

Please note my corrections above. Don't put a space on either side of a slash mark.

I'd use "insulted" as my first choice. I probably wouldn't use "abused" at all in that context but it's entirely possible that others would disagree with me. I would use "offended" only if I knew that the person actually felt offended by being called "stupid".

 

[probus]

Abused is commonly used in that sense in Indian English. North Americans would think of domestic violence if abused was used. Offended is pretty common over here. Snowflakes are plentiful in Canada, both literally and figuratively.

 

[emsr2d2]

Most people still think of some sort of violence when they hear "abuse". You could get around that by saying that calling someone "stupid" could be regarded as a form of "verbal abuse".

 

[Tdol]

To me, it is certainly meant as an insult.