To return verbal blows, learn the art of insulting.
Practice noticing other people's faults, and don't let anything slip by.
Anything that lowers their status works.
People are driven by principles.
Principles drive objectives.
Objectives drive words and actions.
Trace people to their principles and reduce them to a predictable entity if you wish to be efficient in dealing with them.
Cynical as it may be, this is highly effective.