Wounding remark finally hurt relative (5)
I believe the answer is:
taunt
'wounding remark' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both to do with communicating as well as being verbs in their base form.
Maybe they are linked in a way I don't understand?
'finally hurt relative' is the wordplay.
'finally' suggests the final letters.
'relative' becomes 'aunt' (aunt is a kind of relative).
The last letter of 'hurt' is 't'.
't'+'aunt'='TAUNT'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for taunt that I've seen before include "Provoke; tease" , "Rag, goad" , "Make fun of" , "Jeer, deride" , "Tease hurtfully" .)