abusive

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.

We know what works: family court reform that centers safety over shared parenting presumptions; mandatory training on coercive control; limits on custody for abusive partners; strict, enforceable firearm removal; and sustained investment in survivor support.

From Slate • Apr. 25, 2026

Sean Egan, 46, who had worked in the Aldridge store, near Walsall, for 29 years, said that during the incident in December, he had intervened when a shoplifter became abusive.

From BBC • Apr. 20, 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

Greenpeace categorically rejects the accusations, denouncing the proceedings as abusive and a means to silence dissent.

From Barron's • Feb. 27, 2026

While I do think certain individuals are disposed to crime because of their genetic inheritance or an abusive upbringing, I am convinced that apartheid turned many otherwise law-abiding citizens into criminals.

From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela