What is the term for a physical or verbal attack on another person?

The term that describes a physical or verbal attack on another person is “assault.” In legal contexts, assault refers to an intentional act that creates a reasonable apprehension of imminent harmful or offensive contact. It is important to note that this can be either a physical attack or a threat that causes fear of such an attack. Therefore, assault encompasses a broad range of behaviors that involved aggression towards another individual, be it through physical means or verbal threats, demonstrating the aggressive intent.

Battery, while often related, specifically refers to the actual physical contact or harmful action against another person, rather than the threat of harm. Harassment is typically a pattern of unwanted behavior directed at an individual, which can include verbal attacks, but doesn’t exclusively denote physical confrontation. Intimidation involves instilling fear in another person through threats or coercive behavior, but it does not necessarily imply a direct attack. Therefore, "assault" is the most accurate term for describing physical or verbal attacks in a generalized sense.