abuse

[ verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos ]

/ verb əˈbyuz; noun əˈbyus /

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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.

Nearby words

abundant number, abundant year, abundantly, abury, abusage, abuse, abusive, abut, abutilon, abutment, abuttal

Idioms

abuse oneself, to masturbate.

Origin of abuse

1400–50; (v.) late Middle English abusen < Middle French abuser, verbal derivative of abus < Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab- + ūtī to use) + -tus suffix of v. action; (noun) late Middle English abus < Middle French abus or Latin abūsus

SYNONYMS 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.

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ANTONYMS FOR abuse

3, 7 praise.

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Related forms

a·bus·a·ble

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

un·a·bus·a·ble, adjectiveun·a·bused, adjective

Synonym study

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.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for abuser

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

Derived Forms

abuser, noun

Word Origin for abuse

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

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

Medicine definitions for abuser

abuse

[ ə-byōōz′ ]

v.

To use wrongly or improperly; misuse.

To hurt or injure physically by maltreatment.

To force sexual activity on; rape or molest.

To assail with contemptuous, coarse, or insulting words; revile.

n.

Improper use or handling, as of a drug; misuse.

Physical maltreatment, as of a spouse or child.

The forcing of unwanted sexual activity by one person on another.

Sexual activity that is deemed improper or harmful, as between an adult and a minor or with a person of diminished mental capacity.

Insulting or coarse language.

Related forms

a•bus′er n.