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- DictionaryA·buse
verb
- 1. use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse: "the judge abused his power by imposing the fines" Similar misusemisapplymisemploymishandleexploitperverttake advantage of
- ▪ make excessive and habitual use of (alcohol or drugs, especially illegal ones): "at various times in her life she abused both alcohol and drugs"
- 2. treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly: "riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted" Similar mistreatmaltreatill-treattreat badlyill-usemisusehandle/treat roughlyknock aroundmanhandlemishandlemaulmolestinterfere withindecently assaultsexually abusesexually assaultgropeassaulthitstrikebeatinjurehurtharmdamagewrongbullypersecuteoppresstortureinformal:beat uprough updo overOpposite look after
- ▪ assault (someone, especially a woman or child) sexually: "he was a depraved man who had abused his two young daughters"
- ▪ masturbate. euphemistic
- ▪ use or treat in such a way as to cause damage or harm: "he had been abusing his body for years" Similar mistreatmaltreatill-treattreat badlyill-usemisusehandle/treat roughlyknock aroundmanhandlemishandlemaulmolestinterfere withindecently assaultsexually abusesexually assaultgropeassaulthitstrikebeatinjurehurtharmdamagewrongbullypersecuteoppresstortureinformal:beat uprough updo overOpposite look after
- 3. speak in an insulting and offensive way to or about (someone): "the referee was abused by players from both teams" Similar insultbe rude toswear atcursecall someone namestauntshout atscoldrebukeupbraidreprovecastigateinveigh againstimpugnslurrevilesmearvilifyvituperate againstslanderlibelcast aspersions onoffendslightdisparagedenigratedefameinformal:slag offtrash-talkarchaic:miscallOpposite complimentflatter
noun
- 1. the improper use of something: "alcohol abuse" Similar misusemisapplicationmisemploymentmishandlingexploitationperversion
- ▪ unjust or corrupt practice: "protection against fraud and abuse" Similar corruptioninjusticewrongdoingwrongmisconductdelinquencymisdeed(s)offense (s)crimefaultsin
- 2. cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal: "a black eye and other signs of physical abuse" Similar mistreatmentmaltreatmentill treatmentill usemisuserough treatmentmanhandlingmishandlingmolestationinterferenceindecent assaultsexual abusesexual assaultassaultinghittingstrikingbeatinginjuryhurtharmdamagewrongingbullyingpersecutionoppressiontortureinformal:beating uproughing updoing overOpposite care
- ▪ violent treatment involving sexual assault, especially on a repeated basis: "young people who have suffered sexual abuse"
- 3. insulting and offensive language: "waving his fists and hurling abuse at the driver" Similar insultscursesjibesslursexpletivesswear wordsswearingcursingname-callingscoldingrebukesupbraidingreprovalinvectivecastigationrevilementvilificationvituperationslanderlibelslightsdisparagementdenigrationdefamationinformal:slanginga slanging matchmudslingingdisrespectverbal(s)trash talkarchaic:contumelyOpposite complimentsflattery
Word Origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin abus- ‘misused’, from the verb abuti, from ab- ‘away’ (i.e. ‘wrongly’) + uti ‘to use’.
Scrabble Points: 7
A
1B
3U
1S
1E
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