Abuse — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms
Meaning & Definition of Abuse
Abuse (noun)
- a corrupt practice or custom
- improper or excessive use or treatment, misuse
- language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily
Abuse (verb)
- to put to a wrong or improper use
- to use excessively; also, to use without medical justification
- to use or treat so as to injure or damage, maltreat
Abuse (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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harsh insulting language
"hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team"
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incorrect or improper use
"naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family"
Abuse (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms
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to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
"if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition"
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to criticize harshly and usually publicly
"a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides"
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to put to a bad or improper use
"if you abuse your baseball bat by using it to hammer nails, don't expect it to last long"
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to take unfair advantage of
"abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice"
Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Abuse
The most common words with a similar meaning to Abuse:
Near Antonyms of Abuse
Word Forms of Abuse
Origin & Etymology of Abuse
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin abūsus "misuse, waste," noun derivative from abūtī "to exhaust, use up, misuse," from ab- ab- + ūtī "to use:1"
First known use: 15th century
Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Abuse
- CEFR level: C1 English Vocabulary — Page 1
- Topics: Ethics & Values
Words & Phrases Containing Abuse
Frequently Asked Questions about Abuse
What does "Abuse" mean?
"Abuse" means a corrupt practice or custom. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a corrupt practice or custom. It has 6 distinct senses.
What is another word for "Abuse"?
Other words for "Abuse" include billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation and misapplication. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Abuse" you intend.
What are different ways to say "Abuse"?
There are 170 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Abuse". Common alternatives include billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation, misapplication, misemployment and misusage.
How do you use "Abuse" in a sentence?
Examples of "Abuse" in a sentence: "hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team"; "naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family"; "if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition".
Is "Abuse" a noun, verb, or adjective?
"Abuse" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.
Is "Abuse" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?
As a C1-level word, "Abuse" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.
How do you pronounce "Abuse"?
"Abuse" is pronounced /ə-ˈbyüs/ as a noun and /ə-ˈbyüz/ as a verb.
What is the origin of the word "Abuse"?
"Abuse" comes from Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin abūsus "misuse, waste," noun derivative from abūtī "to exhaust, use up, misuse," from ab- ab- + ūtī "to use:1". First known use: 15th century.