abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv 

also -ziv

1

a

: using harsh, insulting language

an angry and abusive crowd

b

: harsh and insulting

abusive language

c

: using or involving physical violence or emotional cruelty

abusive behavior

an abusive husband

an abusive relationship

2

: characterized by wrong or improper use or action

especially : corrupt

abusive financial practices

abusively adverb

abusiveness noun

Synonyms of abusive

• insulting
• outrageous
• obscene
• vituperative
• malicious
• offensive
• scurrilous
• vitriolic
• opprobrious
• invective

Examples of abusive in a Sentence

The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee.

protecting wives from abusive husbands

Recent Examples on the Web

In the infamous 1971 Stanford prison experiment, for example, psychologists assigned study participants to serve either as a hypothetical guard or as a hypothetical prisoner and found that the guards quickly turned abusive. —Caleb Pomeroy, Foreign Affairs, 24 Dec. 2025

The report, which was discussed at a July 15 council meeting, concluded that Blain made abusive and offensive statements and inappropriate personal comments to both men that were unrelated to the city’s legitimate business interests. —Susan Gill Vardon, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Dec. 2025

Vasquez said his mother moved him and a younger relative to Carrollton, trying to flee an abusive relationship. —Marvin Hurst, CBS News, 21 Dec. 2025

The reason that this is such an issue is because my spouse’s ex was extremely abusive and yet accused my spouse of every terrible thing under heaven during the divorce in order to get as much alimony as possible. —R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 21 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from Anglo-French abusif "misplaced, wrong, in error," borrowed from Late Latin abūsīvus "misused, catachrestic," from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī "to abuse entry 2" + -īvus -ive

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for abusive

• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• elusive
• exclusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive

Kids Definition

abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv 

-ziv

: using or characterized by abuse

abusively adverb

abusiveness noun

Legal Definition

abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv, -ziv 

1

: characterized by wrong or improper use or action

abusive tax shelters

2

: inflicting verbal or physical abuse

abusive parents

abusively adverb