abuse

[ verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos ]

See synonyms for abuse on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object),a·bused, a·bus·ing.

to use wrongly or improperly; misuse: to abuse one's authority.
to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.

to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
to commit sexual assault upon.
Obsolete. to deceive or mislead.

noun

wrong or improper use; misuse: the abuse of privileges.
harshly or coarsely insulting language: The officer heaped abuse on his men.

bad or improper treatment; maltreatment: The child was subjected to cruel abuse.
a corrupt or improper practice or custom: the abuses of a totalitarian regime.
rape or sexual assault.
Obsolete. deception.

Idioms about abuse

abuse oneself, to masturbate.

Origin of abuse

First recorded in 1400–50; (for the noun) late Middle English abus, from Middle French, from Latin abūsus “misuse, waste,” noun use of past participle of abūtī “to use up, misuse,” from ab- ab- + ūtī “to use, employ, enjoy”; see also use; verb derivative of the noun

synonym study For abuse

7. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.

Other words for abuse

1	misapply
2	ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt
3	vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce
6	misapplication
7	slander, aspersion

See synonyms for abuse on Thesaurus.com

Opposites for abuse

3, 7

praise

See antonyms for abuse on Thesaurus.com

Other words from abuse

a·bus·a·ble [uh-byoo-zuh-buhl], /əˈbyu zə bəl/, adjective
a·bus·er, noun
an·ti·a·buse, adjective
o·ver·a·buse, noun, verb (used with object), o·ver·a·bused, o·ver·a·bus·ing.
un·a·bus·a·ble, adjective
un·a·bused, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abuse in a sentence

The adopted children, then 18 months and 2.5 years old, came to the family abused and neglected, Wisner says.
Judge: Rehoming Kids Is Trafficking | Tina Traster | December 30, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Dear Thief is worthy of the abused critical adjectives philosophical, atmospheric, and masterful.
A Novel Nearly Impossible to Review | Nicholas Mancusi | December 28, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
She was sexually and verbally abused, leading her to the brink of suicide.
A Quorum For Change: The Fight For Global LGBT Equality | Justin Jones | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
As a result, the inexperienced can find themselves earning well below minimum wage, or abused by underhanded employers.
Amazon’s Turkers Kick Off the First Crowdsourced Labor Guild | Kevin Zawacki | December 3, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
The tough African-French girls living in the projects in Girlhood have been abused and pushed out of the system.
‘Girlhood’: Coming of Age in France’s Projects | Molly Hannon | November 25, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

But he was quite right in carping at her, for fortune, like other fickle jades, is more likely to be true if steadily abused.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
In brief, Chumru abused the English with such an air that he was regarded by the rebels as quite an acquisition.
The Red Year | Louis Tracy
Parr was an arrogant old coxcomb, who abused the respectful kindness he received, and took his pipe into drawing-rooms.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
In previous pages I have spoken of the manner in which the railways of Ireland had long been abused.
Fifty Years of Railway Life in England, Scotland and Ireland | Joseph Tatlow
They abused the young men indecently: and the children fell under the wood.
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version | Various

British Dictionary definitions for abuse

abuse

verb(əˈbjuːz) (tr)

to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse
to maltreat, esp physically or sexually

to speak insultingly or cruelly to; revile
(reflexive) to masturbate

noun(əˈbjuːs)

improper, incorrect, or excessive use; misuse
maltreatment of a person; injury

insulting, contemptuous, or coarse speech
an evil, unjust, or corrupt practice
See child abuse
archaic a deception

Origin of abuse

c14 (vb): via Old French from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī to misuse, from ab- 1 + ūtī to use

Derived forms of abuse

abuser, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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