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abusive

[ uh-byoo-siv ]
/ əˈbyu sɪv /
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See synonyms for: abusive / abusiveness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
using, containing, or characterized by harshly or coarsely insulting language: an abusive author; abusive remarks.
treating badly or injuriously; mistreating, especially physically: his abusive handling of the horse.
wrongly used; corrupt: an abusive exercise of power.
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Origin of abusive

From the Late Latin word abūsīvus, dating back to 1575–85. See abuse, -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM abusive

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use abusive in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for abusive

abusive
/ (əˈbjuːsɪv) /

adjective
characterized by insulting or coarse language
characterized by maltreatment
incorrectly used; corrupt

Derived forms of abusive

abusively, adverbabusiveness, 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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