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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"
- 2. treat (a person or an animal) with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly: "riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted"
noun
- 1. the improper use of something: "alcohol abuse"
- 2. cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal: "a black eye and other signs of physical abuse"
Dec 7, 2023 · Abuse is harm done by one person to another. It can be physical, psychological, emotional, sexual, or financial. Anyone can be abused, including children, adults, and older people. People who are abused are at an increased risk of adverse effects such as depression and PTSD.
Abuse is the improper usage or treatment of a thing, often to unfairly or improperly gain benefit. Abuse can come in many forms, such as: physical or verbal maltreatment, injury, assault, violation, rape, unjust practices, crimes, or other types of aggression.
The verb abuse most commonly means to mistreat and cause harm to a person or an animal. The noun abuse refers to such mistreatment. The victim of the abuse or the kind of abuse is often specified before the word, as in child abuse, spousalabuse, animalabuse, physicalabuse, emotionalabuse, and sexualabuse.
1. /əˈbjus/ cruel or inhumane treatment. 2. /əˈbjuz/ treat badly. IPA guide. Other forms: abused; abuses; abusing. If you abuse someone, it means you are hurting that person, mentally, emotionally, or physically. If someone else is harming you, you are yourself suffering from abuse.
There’s no simple definition of abuse that everyone uses—but there are a few common ideas that come up when people talk about abuse: Exercising unfair power and control over another person. People who are abused feel unsafe about their situation.
Check pronunciation: abuse. Definition of abuse noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.
the use of something for the wrong purpose in a way that is harmful or morally wrong: drug / alcohol abuse. abuse of public money. abuse noun (VIOLENCE) B2. violent, cruel treatment of someone: child abuse. sexual abuse. abuse noun (LANGUAGE) rude and offensive words said to another person: Rival fans shouted abuse at each other. abuse. verb [ T ]
