1
: a corrupt practice or custom
the buying of votes and other election abuses
2
: improper or excessive use or treatment : misuse
drug abuse
3
: language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily
verbal abuse
a term of abuse
4
: physical maltreatment
child abuse
sexual abuse
5
obsolete
: a deceitful act : deception
abused; abusing
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
: to use or treat so as to injure or damage : maltreat
abused his wife
3
: to attack in words : revile
verbally abused the referee
4
obsolete
: deceive
abuser
noun
Synonyms
Examples of abuse in a Sentence
Noun
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.
Verb
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.
Recent Examples on the Web
Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2024
Since joining the Miami Herald in 1999, he’s covered the federal courts nonstop, from Elian Gonzalez’s custody battle to Alex Rodriguez’s steroid abuse.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
While Chen had already accused Yu in court documents of physically abusing their children, the conversation with the therapist was the first time either child was known to have directly accused their mother of abuse.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Ongoing abuse is one of the reasons why Blanc, who became the blue-chip company’s first female chief executive in 2020, is now personally signing off on white male hires as part of the firm’s drive to improve diversity.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024
The controversy over the new bill comes at a time when a boarding school in southeast Missouri closed last month after allegations of abuse.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Colorado would also legally protect parents of minors who are employed illegally, as some have faced criminal charges for child abuse.
—Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The governor’s order came shortly after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared gender-affirming surgical procedures in children and prescribing drugs affecting puberty should be considered child abuse.
—Emma Tucker, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
His defense attorney argued that the killing was in self-defense and said the teen had experienced years of abuse, the Los Angeles Times reported.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024
Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Slack had alleged that Microsoft had been abusing its market dominance in violation of European Union laws by combining Teams with its Office suite.
—John Kell, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
One person who spoke in support of the measure during public comments said the Texas Secretary of State abused its authority in waiving this statute.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
Five Agape staffers were charged with physically abusing students in 2021.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Along with Nasser, medical providers from the University of Southern California and Columbia University have been accused of abusing hundreds of their patients.
—Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
While the company is obviously proud of the potential of this technology—touting how it could be used to provide reading assistance for kids and give a voice to those who’ve lost theirs—OpenAI is clearly very nervous about how this could be abused.
—Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
As a newborn at the hospital, DCFS whisked him away from his parents because the agency accused Juarez, his mother, of abusing an infant half-sister and causing skull fractures.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
The green bubble issue is just one of several ways Apple is abusing its dominant position, according to the lawsuit.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
Now, three of them face charges of assault and child abuse, according to Shelby County jail records.
—Olivia Lloyd, Charlotte Observer, 3 Apr. 2024
Since joining the Miami Herald in 1999, he’s covered the federal courts nonstop, from Elian Gonzalez’s custody battle to Alex Rodriguez’s steroid abuse.
—Jay Weaver, Miami Herald, 2 Apr. 2024
While Chen had already accused Yu in court documents of physically abusing their children, the conversation with the therapist was the first time either child was known to have directly accused their mother of abuse.
—Noah Goldberg, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
Ongoing abuse is one of the reasons why Blanc, who became the blue-chip company’s first female chief executive in 2020, is now personally signing off on white male hires as part of the firm’s drive to improve diversity.
—Orianna Rosa Royle, Fortune Europe, 2 Apr. 2024
The controversy over the new bill comes at a time when a boarding school in southeast Missouri closed last month after allegations of abuse.
—Laura Bauer, Kansas City Star, 1 Apr. 2024
Colorado would also legally protect parents of minors who are employed illegally, as some have faced criminal charges for child abuse.
—Lauren Kaori Gurley, Washington Post, 31 Mar. 2024
The governor’s order came shortly after Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton declared gender-affirming surgical procedures in children and prescribing drugs affecting puberty should be considered child abuse.
—Emma Tucker, CNN, 30 Mar. 2024
His defense attorney argued that the killing was in self-defense and said the teen had experienced years of abuse, the Los Angeles Times reported.
—CBS News, 29 Mar. 2024
Verb
Children who are abused earlier in life, typically before puberty—such as Kevin—show greater emotional dysregulation, weaker control over their thoughts and actions, and more rapid biological aging.
—Marc D. Hauser, TIME, 3 Apr. 2024
Slack had alleged that Microsoft had been abusing its market dominance in violation of European Union laws by combining Teams with its Office suite.
—John Kell, Fortune, 3 Apr. 2024
One person who spoke in support of the measure during public comments said the Texas Secretary of State abused its authority in waiving this statute.
—Cody Copeland, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Apr. 2024
Five Agape staffers were charged with physically abusing students in 2021.
—Judy L. Thomas, Kansas City Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Along with Nasser, medical providers from the University of Southern California and Columbia University have been accused of abusing hundreds of their patients.
—Dan Rosenzweig-Ziff, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024
While the company is obviously proud of the potential of this technology—touting how it could be used to provide reading assistance for kids and give a voice to those who’ve lost theirs—OpenAI is clearly very nervous about how this could be abused.
—Matt Novak / Gizmodo, Quartz, 29 Mar. 2024
As a newborn at the hospital, DCFS whisked him away from his parents because the agency accused Juarez, his mother, of abusing an infant half-sister and causing skull fractures.
—Matt Hamilton, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 2024
The green bubble issue is just one of several ways Apple is abusing its dominant position, according to the lawsuit.
—Allison Morrow, CNN, 22 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'abuse.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin abūsus "misuse, waste," noun derivative from abūtī "to exhaust, use up, misuse," from ab- ab- + ūtī "to use entry 1"
Verb
Middle English abusen, borrowed from Anglo-French abuser, verbal derivative of abuse abuse entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Time Traveler
The first known use of abuse was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing abuse
Dictionary Entries Near abuse
Cite this Entry
“Abuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/abuse. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
Medical Definition
abuse
2 of 2 transitive verb
abused; abusing
1
: to use excessively
abuse alcohol
also
: to use without medical justification
abusing painkillers
2
: to treat so as to injure or damage
abuse a child
3
a
b
: to subject to abuse and especially to rape or indecent assault
abuser
noun
Legal Definition
abuse
1 of 2 transitive verb
abused; abusing
1
: to put to a use other than the one intended: as
a
: to put to a bad or unfair use
abusing the powers of office
b
: to put to improper or excessive use
abuse narcotics
2
a
: to inflict physical or emotional mistreatment or injury on (as one's child) purposely or through negligence or neglect and often on a regular basis
b
: to engage in sexual activity with (a child under an age specified by statute)
3
: to attack harshly with words
abuse a police officer
abuse a debtor
abuser
noun
abuse
2 of 2 noun1
: improper, unfair, or excessive use
abuse of authority
drug abuse
2
a
: the infliction of physical or emotional injury
also
: the crime of inflicting such injury see also battered child syndrome, battered woman's syndrome compare cruelty, neglect
b
3
: a verbal attack (as on a police officer in the performance of his or her duty)
also
: the crime of making such an attack
More from Merriam-Webster on abuse
Nglish: Translation of abuse for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of abuse for Arabic Speakers
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