abuse

abuse

verb

Definition of ABUSE

1

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon <if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition>

Synonyms brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse

Related Words molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture; burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong; beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over)

Phrases take apart

Near Antonyms care (for), cherish, foster, nurture; baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

2

to criticize harshly and usually publicly <a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides>

Synonyms abuse, assail, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperate

Related Words berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip; blaspheme, curse, execrate, imprecate, profane; affront, insult, slur; asperse, bad-mouth, belittle, blackguard, disparage, put down; libel, slander, traduce, vilify; chastise, chide, criticize, lace (into), rebuke, reprimand, reproof; fulminate, lash (out)

Near Antonyms acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

3

to put to a bad or improper use <if you abuse your baseball bat by using it to hammer nails, don't expect it to last long>

Synonyms abuse, misemploy, misuse, pervert, profane, prostitute

Related Words degrade, twist; mismanage; corrupt, debase, desecrate

Near Antonyms apply, employ, use, utilize; respect

4

to take unfair advantage of <abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice>

Synonyms abuse, capitalize (on), cash in (on), impose (on or upon), leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, work

Related Words jerk around, manipulate, mistreat; bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick; commercialize, commodify