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.
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Recent Examples on the Web
Fredrik Nilsson, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Such erroneous ideas contribute to higher rates of maternal mortality in childbirth and rates of medical abuse and negligence.
—De-Shaine Murray, STAT, 29 Nov. 2023
Despite the abuse allegations made against Jeremy, he has not been convicted of a crime.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Rinehart’s forthcoming about how dire things were in the group — overzealous egos and substance abuse both played a role — and the darkness that consumed a band that first started in the Christian music world.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
Through interviews with actors, writers and others in the industry, Ryan doggedly pursues the question of why, after the much-vaunted #MeToo campaign, bad antics and toxic abuses continue behind the scenes at popular television shows.
—Beth Py-Lieberman, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023
The agreement is non-binding and carries mostly general recommendations such as monitoring AI systems for abuse, protecting data from tampering and vetting software suppliers.
—Reuters, NBC News, 27 Nov. 2023
Palmer asked the court for full physical and legal custody of Leo, detailing multiple allegations of physical abuse in the filing, according to documents reviewed by PEOPLE.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Danelle Morton, ProPublica, 18 Nov. 2023
Karlyn Bowman, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Variety previously reported that some of Majors’ former romantic partners who were allegedly abused by him were cooperating with the DA’s case.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
This feature works slightly differently from a similar Apple feature called AirDrop that terrible people sometimes abuse to send profane photographs to strangers nearby.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
The Act provided a one-year window to abuse victims to file beyond the statute of limitations, allowing those who were at least 18 years old to seek justice in their respective cases.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
Through their investigation, police determined that Zakrzewski had abused multiple boys from Jan. 1, 2014 to May 17, 2019.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023
Cassie, a singer and entertainer whose full name is Cassandra Ventura, alleged in a complaint filed Thursday in federal court in New York City that Combs raped and physically abused her — including punching, beating, kicking and stomping on her — over the course of their relationship.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
The new movie sporadically escapes into joy with its musical numbers, which allow the viewer to track Celie’s emotional journey without being overwhelmed by her horrific traumas, including being raped by her father, abused by her husband and separated from her sister and children.
—Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Cassie, a singer and entertainer whose full name is Cassandra Ventura, alleged in a complaint filed Thursday that Combs raped and physically abused her — including punching, beating, kicking and stomping on her — over the course of their relationship.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023
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Noun
Global sanctions and regulations often highlight not just the potential for hostile action by a foreign regime, but a track record of human rights abuses and other offenses.
—Fredrik Nilsson, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2023
Such erroneous ideas contribute to higher rates of maternal mortality in childbirth and rates of medical abuse and negligence.
—De-Shaine Murray, STAT, 29 Nov. 2023
Despite the abuse allegations made against Jeremy, he has not been convicted of a crime.
—James Queally, Los Angeles Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Rinehart’s forthcoming about how dire things were in the group — overzealous egos and substance abuse both played a role — and the darkness that consumed a band that first started in the Christian music world.
—Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
Through interviews with actors, writers and others in the industry, Ryan doggedly pursues the question of why, after the much-vaunted #MeToo campaign, bad antics and toxic abuses continue behind the scenes at popular television shows.
—Beth Py-Lieberman, Smithsonian Magazine, 28 Nov. 2023
The agreement is non-binding and carries mostly general recommendations such as monitoring AI systems for abuse, protecting data from tampering and vetting software suppliers.
—Reuters, NBC News, 27 Nov. 2023
Palmer asked the court for full physical and legal custody of Leo, detailing multiple allegations of physical abuse in the filing, according to documents reviewed by PEOPLE.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 27 Nov. 2023
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Danelle Morton, ProPublica, 18 Nov. 2023
Verb
Less positive, but still healthy majorities, said they had not been called a racial or ethnic slur (77%) or verbally harassed or abused (76%).
—Karlyn Bowman, Forbes, 30 Nov. 2023
Variety previously reported that some of Majors’ former romantic partners who were allegedly abused by him were cooperating with the DA’s case.
—Althea Legaspi, Rolling Stone, 28 Nov. 2023
This feature works slightly differently from a similar Apple feature called AirDrop that terrible people sometimes abuse to send profane photographs to strangers nearby.
—Shira Ovide, Washington Post, 27 Nov. 2023
The Act provided a one-year window to abuse victims to file beyond the statute of limitations, allowing those who were at least 18 years old to seek justice in their respective cases.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 22 Nov. 2023
Through their investigation, police determined that Zakrzewski had abused multiple boys from Jan. 1, 2014 to May 17, 2019.
—Liam Quinn, Peoplemag, 20 Nov. 2023
Cassie, a singer and entertainer whose full name is Cassandra Ventura, alleged in a complaint filed Thursday in federal court in New York City that Combs raped and physically abused her — including punching, beating, kicking and stomping on her — over the course of their relationship.
—Rebecca Cohen, NBC News, 17 Nov. 2023
The new movie sporadically escapes into joy with its musical numbers, which allow the viewer to track Celie’s emotional journey without being overwhelmed by her horrific traumas, including being raped by her father, abused by her husband and separated from her sister and children.
—Ashley Lee, Los Angeles Times, 17 Nov. 2023
Cassie, a singer and entertainer whose full name is Cassandra Ventura, alleged in a complaint filed Thursday that Combs raped and physically abused her — including punching, beating, kicking and stomping on her — over the course of their relationship.
—Saba Hamedy, NBC News, 18 Nov. 2023
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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 7 Dec. 2023.
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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