abuse

Definition for abuse

noun as in wrong use

Strongest matches

corruption, crime, exploitation, injustice, misconduct, misdeed, misuse, offense, prostitution, wrongdoing

Strong matches

debasement, delinquency, desecration, fault, misapplication, mishandling, mismanage, perversion, sin, wrong

noun as in physical hurting, injuring

Strongest matches

crime, damage, harm, injury, maltreatment, misdeed, offense, pollution, violation, wrongdoing

Strong matches

defilement, hurt, impairment, malevolence, manhandling

noun as in verbal attack

Strong matches

blame, castigation, censure, curse, curses, defamation, derision, hosing, insults, invective, knifing, libel, obloquy, opprobrium, put down, quinine, reproach, revilement, scolding, signifying, slander, swearing, tirade, upbraiding, vilification, vituperation

Weak matches

bad-mouthing, kicking around, pushing around

verb as in physically hurt or injure

Strongest matches

beat up, corrupt, harm, impair, maltreat, mistreat, misuse, molest, persecute, victimize, violate

Strong matches

damage, defile, deprave, desecrate, hose, ill-treat, mar, mishandle, oppress, pollute, roughhouse, ruin, spoil, taint, total, wax

Weak matches

bang up, bung up, cut up, mess up, rough up, shake up

verb as in use wrongly

Strongest matches

misuse, squander

Strong matches

dissipate, exhaust, mishandle, overburden, overtax, overwork, prostitute, spoil, taint, waste

Weak match

misemploy

verb as in attack with words

Strongest matches

insult, offend, persecute, revile

Strong matches

backbite, bash, belittle, berate, calumniate, cap, castigate, decry, defame, derogate, discount, knock, minimize, nag, oppress, reproach, ride, scold, signify, slam, slap, smear, sound, trash, upbraid, vilify, vituperate, zing

Weak matches

bad-mouth, blow off, cuss out, cut down, cut to the quick, do a number on, dump on, give a black eye, hurl brickbat, pick on, put down, rag on, rip up, run down, sling mud, swear at, tear apart

verb as in take advantage of

Strongest match

exploit

Strong matches

use, wrong

Weak matches

do an injustice to, impose on

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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.

Attorney General Merrick B. Garland said at the time that Hernández abused his position as president to “operate the country as a narco-state.”

abuse

Example Sentences

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