Boyfriend says things to me that are more or less attacking me. He doesn't like things I say sometimes, says I am attacking him, when I only tell him something I don't like. How can I address this without threatening to break up?

Don't ... Just break up with him.  It's obviously not a healthy relationship, and you should get out of it.

Immediately end this circle of violence, before he possibly ends your life.

Abuse, like this never ends it just keeps on getting worse. Move on.

Don't threaten a break up. Just do it. Your relationship has a major communication break down and there is no way to maintain a relationship like that. In all honesty you both sound like you have some security issues. I suggest you both work on them before being in any relationship.

I've seen it firsthand to me and my friends and that's definitely minor emotional abuse.

It's a cycle, you say things that upset you, he turns it around on you, you get upset and start questioning if you're the problem. It'll only get worse from there. If you really want, you can remain a distant friendship of sorts and suggest he get help for the issue.

Overall, remind yourself thato he doesn't have to hit you for it to be abuse

If you are in a relationship that lacks healthy communication  then you should either work on opening up that road block to communicate better or get out of entirely.  Being in a relationship where neither of you is happy is dysfunctional .. Period. You both deserve better .. And perhaps you so badly mismatched that it's time to move on.

Now .. having said that .. I feel compelled to ask  .. What do you mean by 'more or less attacking'  .. Being critical is not always condescending.  Sometimes it's just being honest and open.  It's all in the delivery and reception. Some people can criticize in the most genuine and kind way that it is taken as constructive criticism .. some can't take any form of criticism .. on the other hand, some people can just be a jerks. 

If you are not willing to break up with him if he doesn't change, why bother to talk to him about it?

I think you need to consider this to be unacceptable behavior on his part and quite possibly a deal breaker if he doesn't change how he interacts with you.

Let him know that you are not willing to remain in a relationship in which you are treated this way; and if he is not willing to make some reasonable changes, you will be forced to move on.

He isn't going to change.  So if you enjoy this sort o emotional abuse, stay with him.  It will definitely become more intense.  If you don't enjoy it, RUN!  Sorry, but I am of the opinion that a**holes don't improve with time.