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

But most likely it was linked to the way priests identify with the poor in the face of government and criminal abuses.
Mexico’s Priests Are Marked for Murder | Jason McGahan | January 7, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
Senate investigations have known about abuses in the CIA interrogation program for years.
CIA Interrogation Chief: ‘Rectal Feeding,’ Broken Limbs Are News to Me | Kimberly Dozier | December 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
And yes, that authoritarian, patriarchal guru-power structure, invariably, always leads to abuses.
Is India’s Fallen ‘God-Man’ So Different From a Megachurch Pastor? | Jay Michaelson | November 21, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
Uber driver allegedly verbally and physically abuses passenger, Uber neglects to even apologize.
The Ten Worst Uber Horror Stories | Olivia Nuzzi | November 19, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST
He became determined to locate other victims who would testify to abuses that could put Lebovits behind bars.
The Orthodox Sex Abuse Crackdown That Wasn’t | Emily Shire | October 7, 2014 | THE DAILY BEAST

But with all her advantages Miss Solomonson failed with the old lord, and she abuses him to this day.
The Pit Town Coronet, Volume I (of 3) | Charles James Wills
But Decker's and Ben Jonson's works abound in allusions to tobacco, its uses and abuses.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce | E. R. Billings.
It was one of the abuses of that liberty of speech suddenly acquired under the new dominion.
The Philippine Islands | John Foreman
It might be said to the Chinese, to the Japanese, to the English—your government swarms with abuses, which you do not correct!
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10) | Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)
The grand secret is, to be in a better condition than others, even with enormous abuses.
A Philosophical Dictionary, Volume 1 (of 10) | Franois-Marie Arouet (AKA Voltaire)

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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