abuse

[verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos]

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SEE MORE 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

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

Related formsa·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

Synonyms for abuse

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR abuse ON THESAURUS.COM

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

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.

Antonyms for abuse

3, 7. praise.

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

Related Words for abusing

harm, violate, maltreat, impair, corrupt, persecute, mistreat, misuse, molest, victimize, squander, offend, revile, insult, exploit, defile, roughhouse, mishandle, pollute, ill-treat

Examples from the Web for abusing

Contemporary Examples of abusing

Hasidic Judaism has a reputation for subverting and abusing women—and women have come forward with testimony to prove it.
The Sisterhood of Bulletproof Stockings: It’s Ladies’ Night for Hasidic Rockers
Emily Shire
September 30, 2014
Goddard was accused of abusing Michael Egan in Hawaii when Egan was a teenager.
Third Hollywood Power Player Files Motion to Dismiss Sex Abuse Lawsuit
Tim Teeman
May 22, 2014
I told him, ‘He is abusing me every single day, what am I supposed to do?’
Pope Francis Declares Divorcees Deserve Compassion, Too
Kirsten Powers
March 9, 2014
This progresses to Fox abusing Spinelli at Fox's home, forcing him to engage in various sexual acts.
How Frank Spinelli Fought to Bring His Molestor to Justice
Tim Teeman
March 2, 2014
Maday was accused of abusing between 35 and 45 children in Wisconsin, which is under the Chicago Archdiocese.
Docs Reveal A Diocese’s Sins
Barbie Latza Nadeau
January 22, 2014

Historical Examples of abusing

Now, sir, where's the good of your abusing me, as if it was my fault?
The Channings
Mrs. Henry Wood
Abusing Gurard, I went upstairs to my mother, whom I found at the open door.
My Double Life
Sarah Bernhardt
I am charged with being "dissatisfied with every thing, and abusing every body."
Diary from November 12, 1862, to October 18, 1863
Adam Gurowski
My-Boots understood, and again set to abusing the old Jew Colombe.
L'Assommoir
Emile Zola
He was abusing the ardent faith and trust of his disciples, this false apostle!
A Nest of Spies
Pierre Souvestre

British Dictionary definitions for abusing

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 Formsabuser, 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

Word Origin and History for abusing

abuse

mid-15c., "improper practice," from Old French abus (14c.), from Latin abusus (see abuse (v.)). Earlier in Middle English was abusion "wicked act or practice, shameful thing, violation of decency" (early 14c.), "an insult" (mid-14c.).

abuse

early 15c., "to misuse, misapply," from Middle French abuser, from Vulgar Latin *abusare, from Latin abusus "an abusing, using up," past participle of abuti "use up," also "misuse," from ab- "away" (see ab-) + uti "use" (see use). Of sexual situations from early 15c., but originally incest, homosexuality, prostitution, etc.; meaning "to misuse sexually, ravish" is from 1550s. Specifically of drugs, from 1968. Related: Abused; abusing.

abusing in Medicine

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 formsa•bus′er n.