as in insulting
marked by harsh insulting language
never one to believe that honorable people can disagree honorably, he invariably launches abusive attacks against anyone who dares to challenge him
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abusive
From messages from God to the warnings about abusive relationships, my gut has been a beacon trying to guide me.
—
Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Preempting a defense argument that Combs’ romantic partners could have said no to the freak-offs, or left Combs at any time in their relationship, Slavik relied on expert testimony that explained the dynamics of an abusive relationship.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 June 2025
In the YouTube description, Girl Named Tom encouraged fans who are in an abusive relationship to visit DomesticShelters.org for help in their area.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025
The memoir describes the fallout of Lacey’s divorce from her emotionally abusive husband.
—Diana Arterian
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Literary Hub, 26 June 2025
Preempting a defense argument that Combs’ romantic partners could have said no to the freak-offs, or left Combs at any time in their relationship, Slavik relied on expert testimony that explained the dynamics of an abusive relationship.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 26 June 2025
In the YouTube description, Girl Named Tom encouraged fans who are in an abusive relationship to visit DomesticShelters.org for help in their area.
—Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 23 June 2025
The memoir describes the fallout of Lacey’s divorce from her emotionally abusive husband.
—Diana Arterian
june 20, Literary Hub, 20 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusive
Adjective
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Conversations revealed an ongoing dialogue that was not only deeply insulting to Read, but morally offensive to women broadly.—
Gemma Allen,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
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Trump’s orders are insulting to state and local officials, but especially to the Marines.—
Tom Zirpoli,
Baltimore Sun,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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But those first two seasons are really timeless — thrilling, ambitious, outrageous to this day.—
Los Angeles Times Staff,
Los Angeles Times,
3 July 2025
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In the midst of the investigation, Mayo launched an outrageous attack on Pryor’s credibility and released part of her personnel file from her 26-year career in Fort Lauderdale to question why Moore hired her.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
2 July 2025
Adjective
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The ex-data processor for the Boston Transportation Department was previously convicted in Suffolk Superior Court of: rape of a child, assault to rape a child, indecent assault and battery on a child, disseminating obscene material to a minor, and possession of child pornography.—
Rick Sobey,
Boston Herald,
24 June 2025
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But the legal standard for what qualifies as obscene is extremely high.—
Tiffani Jackson,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
14 June 2025
Adjective
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If that happens, the rest of his offensive game could fall apart.—
Sam Vecenie,
New York Times,
26 June 2025
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On the surface, these aren’t numbers that suggest an NBA-level offensive player.—
Mat Issa,
Forbes.com,
25 June 2025
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
28 June 2025
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Nor are alligators the consistently malicious snappers of Kristi Noem’s dreams.—
Pat Beall,
Sun Sentinel,
27 June 2025
Adjective
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On Wednesday, the President faced a barrage of ominous developments that might have fazed another leader—a worrisome jobs report, losses in federal court related to four of his signature policies, an increasingly vituperative public breakup with Elon Musk.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
5 June 2025
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Even before Trump took office, many scientists were reluctant to engage with the topic, for fear of being drawn into what has been a very public and vituperative debate.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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The justices who renounced that lie in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center exposed themselves to scurrilous criticisms and even threats to their safety.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
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The good people of Lancaster County were innocent of the charges thrown at them by raving Southerners and scurrilous Democrats.—
Matthew Karp,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Between the time the former Marine Soto was indicted in 2018 and sentenced in 2020, then-President Donald Trump offered up vitriolic invective to Mexican officials.—
Sean Campbell,
The Conversation,
23 May 2025
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Decades later, almost identical invective pours from the mouth of Scott Rudin, infuriated after a manuscript goes to a competitor.—
Alexandra Jacobs,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusive. Accessed 8 Jul. 2025.
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