Here are some examples of verbal abuse.
| Name calling | Swearing | Yelling |
| Degrading comments | Mimicking | Threatening to take children away |
| Put-downs | Lying/Deceitfulness | Brainwashing |
| Sarcasm | Outright cruelty | Using information you have revealed against you |
| Blaming | Guilt-producing statements | “You are not okay” statements |
| Demanding | Threatening tone of voice | Contradicting |
| Irrational questioning | Interrogating | Twisting your words |
| Calling you “crazy” |