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
The child of an abusive and alcoholic Pentecostal-preacher dad, Taff eventually fell into alcoholism himself, unable to cope with the shame lingering from his traumatic childhood.
—
Chris Willman, Variety, 14 June 2025
Those who have survived and escaped an abusive relationship are statistically likely to return to the abusive situation many times before completely separating.
—Natalia Gottschalk, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
Pitt denied ever being abusive to his children, and no criminal charges were ever filed.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
But like any powerful tool, healing language can also be misused, especially by those with manipulative or abusive tendencies.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Chris Willman, Variety, 14 June 2025
Those who have survived and escaped an abusive relationship are statistically likely to return to the abusive situation many times before completely separating.
—Natalia Gottschalk, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 June 2025
Pitt denied ever being abusive to his children, and no criminal charges were ever filed.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 12 June 2025
But like any powerful tool, healing language can also be misused, especially by those with manipulative or abusive tendencies.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 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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The events this morning are outrageous and will have everlasting consequences.—
Jason Lemon,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 June 2025
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My hair fell out, my mouth filled with sores, and the overnight fevers were outrageous.—
Noor Hassan,
Rolling Stone,
21 June 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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After making a flurry of offensive upgrades this offseason, the Commanders are poised to contend with Jayden Daniels leading the charge.—
Kevin McCormick,
MSNBC Newsweek,
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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The first-degree arson charges and malicious damage by explosive charges are connected to the damage to two homes on each side of Barnette’s property.—
Jeff A. Chamer,
Charlotte Observer,
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 6 Jul. 2025.
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