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
Etymology
Origin of abusive
From the Late Latin word abūsīvus, dating back to 1575–85. See abuse, -ive
Explanation
People or actions that are hurtful or harmful are abusive. Being abusive is one of the worst things a parent — or anyone else — can do. Abusive is a strong word for serious actions. A parent asking you to take out the garbage is not being abusive, but a parent who hits you, locks you up, or yells at you repeatedly is being abusive, which is wrong and also illegal. Teachers can be abusive too, and so can bosses, co-workers, or other students. Anyone who has power has a lot of potential to be abusive in a physical or psychological (mental) way. One of the most important parts of being a parent, teacher, boss — or anyone else — is making sure you don't do anything abusive. When you hear the word abusive, think "Someone is being hurt."
Vocabulary lists containing abusive
Workshop 1, Part 1
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"Only Daughter" and "Calling a Foul"
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Florida's B.E.S.T. Common Suffixes: -ive, -ative, -itive
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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.
Cuban Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez has condemned a new wave of US sanctions on the country as "illegal and abusive".
From BBC • May 2, 2026
In a Spanish-language statement, he called the sanctions "illegal" and "abusive."
From Barron's • May 1, 2026
Nicchitta made a pitch for legislative change, noting the county was looking to Sacramento to “eliminate loopholes allowing abusive practices by attorneys that inject weak and potentially fraudulent claims into settlement pools.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
A spokeswoman told The Wall Street Journal earlier this year that the company “always explicitly opposed any form of illegal or abusive conduct” on its network.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026
In Sweden, the people I met were equally interested and responsive, even though they hadn't experienced profound need or shared struggle with an abusive justice system.
From "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson
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.
