abuse

nounwrong use

nounphysical hurting, injuring
nounverbal attack
verbphysically hurt or injure
verbuse wrongly
verbattack with words
verbtake advantage of

Word Origin & History

early 15c., "to misuse, misapply," from Middle French abuser, from Vulgar Latin *abusare, from Latin abusus "an abusing, using up," past participle of abuti "use up," also "misuse," from ab- "away" (see ab-) + uti "use" (see use). Of sexual situations from early 15c., but originally incest, homosexuality, prostitution, etc.; meaning "to misuse sexually, ravish" is from 1550s. Specifically of drugs, from 1968. Related: Abused; abusing.

Example Sentences for abuse

Let us rejoice that one such partisan was now at hand to stem the torrent of abuse.

Abandonment and abuse are not acts of God, they are failures of love.

Oh, Whizzer, you poor fellow, why do you let him abuse you so?

That would have been an abuse of our treaties, and unworthy of your character.

Yes, they have good times, their freedom is large, and they do not abuse it.

People are apt to abuse mathematics, when they don't know what they're talking about.

I do not mind about the man's abuse; but I confess I grudge my twopence.

With all the abuse they had borne, not one of the brothers had been struck before.

She knows her power, and I am afraid this tempts her to abuse it.

You are always blaming me for want of generosity to this man, and for abuse of power.

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Synonyms for abuse

noun wrong use

abuse

Synonyms for abuse

Antonyms for abuse

More words related to abuse

affront

affront

affronted

affronting

aggrieve

aspersion

abuse

Synonyms for abuse

Antonyms for abuse

More words related to abuse

.css-1unrqcp{color:inherit;-webkit-text-decoration:none;text-decoration:none;}affront

affront

affronted

affronting

aggrieve

aspersion

affront