abuse

noun \ ə-ˈbyüs \

|Updated on: 6 Aug 2018

Tip: Synonym Guide

Examples: abuse in a Sentence

Definition of abuse

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

See abuse defined for English-language learners

Examples of abuse in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples of abuse from the Web

The photos triggered her memories of her lifetime of abuse.

— ryan w. miller, USA TODAY, "Daughter kills dad after finding his child porn collection. She buried her secret for 12 years," 13 July 2018
His henchmen that day had killed a U.S. congressman and others who'd come to Jonestown to investigate charges of abuse.

— will higgins, Indianapolis Star, "She woke up in Jonestown — everyone was dead," 13 July 2018
Munoz, who reported himself in January for a case of abuse, was scheduled to be taken to court Friday.

— Fox News, "Chilean priest accused of sexually abusing minors arrested," 12 July 2018
However, the turning point in the case came in 2001, when York’s estranged son as well as other followers — including Niki Lopez — came forward with their tales of abuse.

— christine pelisek, PEOPLE.com, "4 Things You'll Learn About an Egyptian-Themed Sect Hiding Child Sex Abuse, on Monday's PMI: Cults," 8 July 2018
Born on July 7, 1929, Rodriguez Trias fought better healthcare for women and children throughout her career, from those affected by HIV and AIDS to victims of abuse.

— fortune staff, Fortune, "Why Google Doodle Celebrates Helen Rodriguez Trias," 7 July 2018
Strap-length adjustments are buttery smooth thanks to an aluminum clasp that can be manipulated with one hand, and the seatbelt-style nylon webbing slides easily over my clothing and will take plenty of abuse.

— jakob schiller, Outside Online, "Five Pieces of Perfectly Designed Gear," 3 July 2018
Helping to heal scars of abuse A native of Crystal Lake, Ill., Markison dreamed of being a professional ballplayer.

— georgann yara, azcentral, "Athalonz's Tim Markison helping make sports 'healthy for the future'," 28 June 2018
In his own public comments on the matter, Mr. Trump emphasized Mr. Porter’s denial of abuse without addressing his staff’s handling of the matter.

— peter nicholas, WSJ, "Trump Consults on Successors for Chief of Staff John Kelly," 28 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'abuse.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of abuse

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 ²use"

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

abuse Synonyms

Synonym Discussion of abuse

abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate mean vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval. abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.

- scathing verbal abuse

vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse.

- a torrent of vituperation

invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation.

- blistering political invective

obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace.

- subjected to obloquy and derision

billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse.

- directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

abuse

verb \ ə-ˈbyüz \

Definition of abuse

abused; abusing

transitive verb

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

—

abusable

play \-ˈbyü-zə-bəl\ adjective

—

abuser

noun

See abuse defined for English-language learners

See abuse defined for kids

Examples of abuse in a Sentence

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 of abuse from the Web

This, as any half-decent writer can tell you, is a talent that is extremely easy to abuse.

— laurie penny, Longreads, "Peterson’s Complaint," 12 July 2018
Gundogan and Ozil were whistled by German fans during matches, while both have been subjected to abuse off the pitch, too.

— ciaran fahey, The Seattle Times, "Germany makes Mesut Ozil the scapegoat for World Cup exit," 10 July 2018
According to Grant, the officer explained that adult agents would take on the roles to lure out people who use the internet to abuse children.

— chris stokel-walker, The Atlantic, "The Linguist Who Helps Police Catch Child Predators," 10 July 2018
But many of the trends that Brill identifies, like political polarization, have their origins in the erosion of norms, not laws, and the real question is whether Americans can trust one another enough not to abuse less legalistic systems.

— New York Times, "America Has Gone Off the Rails. Steven Brill Sees Ways to Get It Back on Track.," 2 July 2018
Compared to kids who lunged for the early reward, those who held out for a bigger prize did better in school, got higher SAT scores, had higher self-esteem and better emotional coping skills, and were less likely to abuse drugs.

— melissa healy, latimes.com, "The surprising thing the 'marshmallow test' reveals about kids in an instant-gratification world," 26 June 2018
Rust believes the science of psychometrics was born to be abused.

— issie lapowsky, WIRED, "The Man Who Saw the Dangers of Cambridge Analytica Years Ago," 19 June 2018
One Trump voter from California said revealing her political leaning could expose family members to abuse.

— ledyard king, USA TODAY, "One group tries to lower the volume on the high-decibel noise that's further dividing a polarized nation," 17 June 2018
The charges against the former dean came as part of Michigan special prosecutor William Forsyth's investigation into how Nassar was able to abuse more than 200 young girls and women over two decades.

— madison park, CNN, "Larry Nassar's former boss scheduled for court hearing," 5 June 2018

Origin and Etymology of abuse

Middle English abusen, borrowed from Anglo-French abuser, verbal derivative of abuse ¹abuse

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1a

See Words from the same year

abuse Synonyms

Synonyms

assail, attack, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, vituperate;

Near Antonyms

acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise;

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);

Phrases

beat up on, light into, sail into, tie into;

ABUSE Defined for Kids

abuse

noun \ ə-ˈbyüs \

Definition of abuse for Students

1 : wrong or unfair treatment or use

abuse of power

2 : the act or practice of improperly using or of using in harmful amounts

drug abuse

3 : harmful treatment of a person or an animal

4 : harsh insulting language

“Never a kind word for old Templeton, only abuse and wisecracks …”
—E. B. White, Charlotte's Web

5 : a dishonest practice

election abuses

abuse

verb \ ə-ˈbyüz \

Definition of abuse for Students

abused; abusing

1 : to treat in a cruel or harmful way

abuse an animal

2 : to use wrongly : misuse

abuse privileges

3 : to use improperly or in harmful amounts

abuse drugs

4 : to blame or scold rudely

Word Root of abuse

The Latin word ūtī, meaning “to use,” “to possess,” or “to enjoy,” and its form ūsus give us the roots ut and us. Words from the Latin ūtī have something to do with use. To use is to possess and enjoy. To abuse is to use something incorrectly or unfairly. Anything usual is commonly used by many people. A utensil is a tool that is used for a particular purpose, especially for eating or cooking.

Medical Dictionary

abuse

noun \ ə-ˈbyüs \

medical Definition of abuse

1 : improper or excessive use or treatment

drug abuse

long-term abuse of tranquilizers

2 : physical maltreatment: as

a : the act of violating sexually : rape

b under some statutes : rape or indecent assault not amounting to rape

abuse

transitive verb \ ə-ˈbyüz \

medical Definition of abuse

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 : masturbate

b : to subject to abuse and especially to rape or indecent assault

—

abusable

play \-ˈbyü-zə-bəl\ adjective

—

abuser

noun

Law Dictionary

abuse

transitive verb \ ə-ˈbyüz \

legal Definition of abuse

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

noun \ ə-ˈbyüs \

legal Definition of abuse

1 : 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 : sexual abuse

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