abuse
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.
About Our Definitions: All forms of a word (noun, verb, etc.) are now displayed on one page.1abuse
noun \ə-ˈbyüs\Definition of ABUSE
1
: a corrupt practice or custom
2
: improper or excessive use or treatment : misuse <drug abuse>
3
obsolete : a deceitful act : deception
4
: language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily
5
: physical maltreatment
See Examples of ABUSE
- He subjected his wife to physical and emotional abuse.
- the buying of votes and other election abuses
- She was subjected to every term of abuse her boss could think of.
- a torrent of verbal abuse
- The prisoner hurled abuse at the judge.
Origin of ABUSE
Middle English, from Middle French abus, from Latin abusus, from abuti to consume, from ab- + uti to use
First Known Use: 15th century
Related to ABUSE
- Synonyms
- billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation
Synonym Discussion of ABUSE
abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language <scathing verbal abuse>. vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse <a torrent of vituperation>. invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation <blistering political invective>. obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace <subjected to obloquy and derision>. billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse <directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver>.
Rhymes with ABUSE
Aarhus, abstruse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose
2abuse
transitive verb \ə-ˈbyüz\abusedabus·ing
Definition of ABUSE
1
a : to put to a wrong or improper use <abuse a privilege> b : to use excessively <abuse alcohol>; also : to use without medical justification <abusing painkillers>
2
obsolete : deceive
3
: to use so as to injure or damage : maltreat
Examples of ABUSE
- He was accused of sexually abusing a child.
- He abused his body with years of heavy drinking.
- He had abused his first car by not taking care of it.
- She abused her friend's trust.
- a senator who abuses his power
- He abused my confidence by letting this secret be known.
First Known Use of ABUSE
15th century
Learn More About ABUSE
Browse
Next Word in the Dictionary: abuse of process
Previous Word in the Dictionary: abusage
All Words Near: abuse
Previous Word in the Dictionary: abusage
All Words Near: abuse
Seen & Heard 
What made you want to look up abuse? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
