domestic violence
Intimate partner abuse
Domestic violence is physical, emotional, or sexual abuse within a household or intimate relationship.
The term covers a range of harmful behaviors—hitting, threatening, controlling finances, isolating from friends and family—typically involving a pattern rather than an isolated incident.
She finally left after years of domestic violence.
Often shortened to DV in professional contexts.
Direct emergency phone connection
- shelterProtected place or structure
- safehouseSecure secret shelter
- restraining orderCourt-enforced avoidance mandate
- protection orderLegal barrier against contact
advocacy · safety planning · crisis center · legal aid · victim services · outreach · prevention programs · risk assessment
Harm inflicted by partner
- child witnessYoung person giving testimony
- intergenerationalInvolving multiple age groups
- coercive controlOngoing pattern of domination
- marital rapeSexual assault by spouse
femicide · homicide · murder-suicide · welfare check · 911 · mandatory arrest · no-contact order · victim blaming
Repeated forceful striking
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- controlAuthority to direct
- emotional abuseNon-physical relational harm
- physical abuseIntentional bodily harm
psychological abuse · verbal abuse · sexual abuse · financial abuse · gaslighting · intimidation · manipulation · victimization
One still alive after
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- healingRestoration of health
- counselingProfessional guidance for problems
therapy · support group · rebuilding · independence · courage · strength · transformation · renewal
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbacksInvoluntary vivid memory episodes
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
- depressionProlonged low state
hypervigilance · triggers · fear · distrust · isolation · shame · guilt · helplessness
Progressive increase in intensity
- tension buildingIncreasing dramatic strain
- explosionViolent burst of energy
- honeymoon phaseInitial period of idealization
- reconciliationRestoration of friendly relations
apology · denial · normalization · repetition · entrapment · love bombing · minimization · pattern
hotline
Direct emergency phone connection
- shelterProtected place or structure
- safehouseSecure secret shelter
- restraining orderCourt-enforced avoidance mandate
protection order · advocacy · safety planning · crisis center · legal aid · victim services · outreach · prevention programs · risk assessment · mandatory reporting
spousal abuse
Harm inflicted by partner
- child witnessYoung person giving testimony
- intergenerationalInvolving multiple age groups
- coercive controlOngoing pattern of domination
marital rape · femicide · homicide · murder-suicide · welfare check · 911 · mandatory arrest · no-contact order · victim blaming
battering
Repeated forceful striking
- coercionPressured compliance through threats
- controlAuthority to direct
- emotional abuseNon-physical relational harm
physical abuse · psychological abuse · verbal abuse · sexual abuse · financial abuse · gaslighting · intimidation · manipulation · victimization · maltreatment
survivor
One still alive after
- resilienceCapacity to recover quickly
- empowermentGaining authority or confidence
- healingRestoration of health
counseling · therapy · support group · rebuilding · independence · courage · strength · transformation · renewal · hope
PTSD
Chronic reaction to horrific events
- flashbacksInvoluntary vivid memory episodes
- nightmaresTerrifying sleep experiences
- anxietyPersistent apprehensive distress
depression · hypervigilance · triggers · fear · distrust · isolation · shame · guilt · helplessness · psychological wounds
escalation
Progressive increase in intensity
- tension buildingIncreasing dramatic strain
- explosionViolent burst of energy
- honeymoon phaseInitial period of idealization
reconciliation · apology · denial · normalization · repetition · entrapment · love bombing · minimization · pattern · recurrence
- criminal lawcrime, felony, misdemeanor, murder, robbery
- women's rightssuffrage movement, women's suffrage, women's rights, gender equality, feminism
- victim servicesvictim support, victim advocate, victim assistance, crisis intervention, safe house
- women's lawwomen's rights, gender equality, equal rights, gender discrimination, reproductive rights
- Women's Serviceswomen's centers, women's clinic, women's clinics, women's shelter, women's health clinic
- abuse traumachild abuse, sexual abuse, emotional abuse, physical abuse, neglect
domestic violencedomestic harmony
Peaceful household relations
domestic tranquility · loving home · family harmony · spousal love · mutual respect
violent, violence, household, domestic, violate, violation, nonviolent, domesticated, violently