abusive
Americanadjective
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using, containing, or characterized by harshly or coarsely insulting language.
an abusive author; abusive remarks.
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treating badly or injuriously; mistreating, especially physically.
his abusive handling of the horse.
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wrongly used; corrupt.
an abusive exercise of power.
adjective
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characterized by insulting or coarse language
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characterized by maltreatment
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incorrectly used; corrupt
Usage
What does abusive mean? Warning: This article involves discussion of the sensitive topics of physical and emotional 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. Abusive is an adjective used to describe a person who abuses a person or an animal—mistreats and causes harm to them. It can also be used to describe such a person’s actions.The noun abuse refers to such mistreatment. A person who abuses someone can be called an abuser.The kind of abuse is sometimes specified before the word abusive, as in physically abusive and emotionally abuse.Example: Just because it’s not physical doesn’t mean it’s not abusive—emotional abuse can leave its own scars.
Other Word Forms
- abusively adverb
- abusiveness noun
- nonabusive adjective
- nonabusively adverb
- nonabusiveness noun
- overabusive adjective
- overabusively adverb
- overabusiveness noun
- unabusive adjective
- unabusively adverb
- unabusiveness noun
Etymology
Origin of abusive
From the Late Latin word abūsīvus, dating back to 1575–85. See abuse, -ive
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At the Fed, Bowman has moved to slash staff and erect guardrails against what she describes as “abusive” supervisory practices.
MUNICH—Ask a European official who attended this weekend’s Munich Security Conference about the state of the trans-Atlantic relationship, and you’re likely to hear metaphors about dealing with a troubled, possibly abusive, spouse.
An important study from Australia found that in the last few decades we have really lowered the threshold to what is labeled harmful, abusive, traumatizing and neglectful behavior.
Jarecki, who has said he didn’t participate in abusive conduct, didn’t immediately respond to a request for comment.
School staff have voted to extend strike action over claims they are facing abusive and disruptive student behaviour which managers are failing to deal with.
From BBC
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.
