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abuse
[ verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos ]
verb (used with object)
- to use wrongly or improperly; misuse:
to abuse one's authority.
Synonyms: misapply
- 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.
Synonyms: scold, berate, vituperate, vilify, traduce, calumniate, defame, slander
Antonyms: praise
- to commit sexual assault upon.
- Obsolete. to deceive or mislead.
noun
- wrong or improper use; misuse:
the abuse of privileges.
Synonyms: misapplication
- harshly or coarsely insulting language:
The officer heaped abuse on his men.
Antonyms: praise
- 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.
abuse
verb
- to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse
- to maltreat, esp physically or sexually
- to speak insultingly or cruelly to; revile
- reflexive to masturbate
noun
- 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
Derived Forms
- aˈbuser, noun
Other Words From
- a·bus·a·ble [uh, -, byoo, -z, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
- a·buser noun
- anti·a·buse adjective
- over·a·buse noun verb (used with object) overabused overabusing
- una·busa·ble adjective
- una·bused adjective
Word History and Origins
Word History and Origins
Origin of abuse1
Idioms and Phrases
- abuse oneself, to masturbate.
Synonym Study
Example Sentences
Since then, the former couple has undergone two trials — one in London and the other in Virginia — related to dueling claims of abuse during their relationship.
The Archbishop of Canterbury has apologised for causing "further distress" after Church of England abuse survivors criticised his Lords farewell speech for making light of serious safeguarding failures.
The Welsh government said any form of violence or abuse against staff or pupils was "completely unacceptable" and they were looking at proposals to improve behaviour.
A journalist was "mistakenly" told by police weeks before her death that she was not entitled to know if her former partner had any history of domestic abuse, an inquest has heard.
He added "it has a paralysing effect when we talk about almost fictional fears" and urged a renewed focus on dealing with "real" issues around child sex abuse, deep fakes and disinformation.
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About This Word
What does abuse mean?
Warning: This article involves discussion of the sensitive topics of physical and emotional abuse and substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline site to chat or call the hotline at 1-800-799-7233. For support with substance abuse, call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.
The verb abuse most commonly means to mistreat and cause harm to a person or an animal.
The noun abuse refers to such mistreatment. The victim of the abuse or the kind of abuse is often specified before the word, as in child abuse, spousal abuse, animal abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.
A person who abuses someone can be called an abuser, and such a person is said to be abusive.
Abuse can also be used as a verb meaning to misuse something or as a noun meaning misuse—referring to the overuse or improper use of things. This sense of the word is especially seen in the phrases alcohol abuse, drug abuse, substance abuse, and abuse of power.
As a verb, abuse is pronounced uh-BYOOZ. As a noun, it’s pronounced uh-BYOOS. This same pronunciation pattern is seen in the verb and noun forms of the word use (which rhyme with the verb and noun forms of abuse, respectively).
Example: Just because it’s not physical doesn’t mean it’s not abuse—emotional abuse can leave its own scars.
Where does abuse come from?
The first records of the word abuse come from the 1400s. It comes from the Latin abūsus, from the Latin verb abūtī, meaning “to misuse.” The prefix ab- means “outside of” or “opposite to.”
We often think of abuse as a repeated behavior, and it often is, but even a single instance of mistreatment qualifies as abuse. Unfortunately, abuse can happen in many forms, and those forms are often specified along with the word.
When abuse is used to refer to misuse of something (as opposed to the mistreatment of someone), it’s often associated with seriously negative behavior, like alcohol abuse (which refers to the overconsumption of alcohol, often due to addiction). However, both the noun and verb can be applied to less serious situations, as in My kids abuse their shoes so much that I have to buy them a new pair every few months.
When the plural abuses is used, it often has a slightly different meaning. When we talk about the abuses of a government or organization, we typically use the word to mean “corrupt or improper practices.”
Did you know ... ?
What are some other forms related to abuse?
- abuser (noun)
- abused (adjective, noun)
- abusive (adjective)
What are some synonyms for abuse?
What are some words that share a root or word element with abuse?
What are some words that often get used in discussing abuse?
How is abuse used in real life?
Abuse is always used negatively, and discussions about abuse are usually very serious.
Paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale's prison term extended for sexual abuse of boys in 1970s https://t.co/Qh0ibQtyIS
— ABC News (@abcnews) May 14, 2020
Every citizen can step up to oppose abuse of power, since power is granted by the people. Withholding information and giving out erroneous information, and hypnotizing the public to make choices against its own interest, is not informed consent; it is psychological manipulation.
— Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv (@BandyXLee1) May 14, 2020
If you or someone you know are suffering domestic abuse you can access help and advice herehttps://t.co/mgvLVKjQO0
Including support organisations and reporting options#domesticabuse
— West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (@WestYorksOPCC) May 19, 2020
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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