What's the difference in meaning of these insults?

What is the difference in meaning between these insults:

- a retard
- a freak

Both were brandished about a lot at school, and I found both to be equally hurtful when I was called them.

Is there any actual difference in menaing?

Which is worse?

Scroll to see replies

Reply 1

Abcdefghijk123

To me freak means weird/different/odd in some way and retard is a derogatory word for the mentally disabled. I consider retard to be worse.

Reply 2

Anonymous #1

Which is more insulting?

Reply 3

Abcdefghijk123

Original post by Anonymous

Which is more insulting?

Retard imo as not only are they basically calling you 'stupid' and 'slow', they're also bringing disabled people into it. I never really felt insulted by being called a freak; it just means 'different' to me.

Reply 4

Sabertooth

I'd say freak is worse.

Reply 5

Troska

What about 'Zombie boy'?

Reply 6

It's****ingWOODY

If you're a freak then you're weird; an outcast; different, in the worst way possible; an oddball. If you're called a retard, you're basically being called stupid.

Reply 7

Anonymous #1

Original post by It's****ingWOODY

If you're a freak then you're weird; an outcast; different, in the worst way possible; an oddball. If you're called a retard, you're basically being called stupid.

Which is more insulting?

Reply 8

the bear

sometimes these are combined ....freaktard ?

:s-smilie:

Reply 9

uberteknik

Words are hurtful if you let them get to you.

Don't hand that power to the tossers who use the words against you.

I know that's easier said than done but my advice would be to muster as much strength as you can and ignore it.
Responding to the taunts only feeds their bullying.

Staying strong says infinitely more about your character and how much superior to them you are. :smile:

Reply 10

Napp

To be honest in the context they're probably using them i doubt there is much difference.
On a more technical level though a retard is someone who is inanely stupid and a freak is just someone who is weird.

Reply 11

Anonymous #1

What does it mean to be called a freak? Is it mean?

Reply 12

SWCoffee

Freak is a compliment. It means you're independent and unbound.

Retard can be benign if used offhanedly, but can be considered intelligence persecution in more severe cases.

As I always say, stupid people don't ask to be stupid, they simply are.

Reply 13

Sabertooth

Original post by SWCoffee

Freak is a compliment.

Reply 14

Sabertooth

She's really, really not.

Unless the meaning has changed since I was at school. :/

Reply 15

username3590460

a freak only sounds mean when a non British person says it
retard is basically someone with learning difficulties so I don't say that word anymlre

retard is worse

Reply 16

Sabertooth

Being called "weird" is one thing, being a "freak" is being weird on a whole 'nother level.

When you come home from uni for the first time in months and your mum looks at you and says "you look like a freak, what's wrong with you?" it's not a ****ing compliment.