Children haven't learned very many ways to cope yet and just like the very young ones may hit or kick, etc. the teens sometimes use very hard words because they know they'll have an "effect". My stepmother and I were very hard on one another verbally (and she, physically) when I was a young teen and I always regretted it but couldn't "stop."

I think it is mostly frustration talking. I'd note a teen's anger and what it is "about" so I could try to help but I'd convert the actual words to something like, "Your mother wears combat boots" :-)