abusive

adjective abu·sive \ ə-ˈbyü-siv also -ziv \

Updated on: 16 May 2018

Definition of abusive

1 a : using harsh, insulting language

an angry and abusive crowd

b : harsh and insulting

abusive language

c : using or involving physical violence or emotional cruelty

abusive behavior

an abusive husband

an abusive relationship

2 : characterized by wrong or improper use or action; especially : corrupt

abusive financial practices

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abusively

adverb

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abusiveness

noun

See abusive defined for English-language learners

See abusive defined for kids

Examples of abusive in a Sentence

The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee.
protecting wives from abusive husbands

Recent Examples of abusive from the Web

Omar Mateen, who murdered 49 at the Pulse nightclub shooting in 2016, was physically abusive towards his wife, Sitora Yusufiy.

— meagan fredette, refinery29.com, "New Revelations Show Golden State Killer Had Toxic History With Women," 29 Apr. 2018
Chisholm concluded the officers' actions toward Trammell were not abusive.

— gina barton, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "No charges against West Milwaukee officers in death of a mentally ill man hit 18 times with Taser," 27 Apr. 2018
Since 2011, the regional government of Catalonia has collaborated with the lab to use this simulation in rehabilitation programs for abusive men.

— naomi fry, The New Yorker, "Are We Already Living in Virtual Reality?," 26 Mar. 2018
Fewer abusive men will mentor acolytes in their image.

— The Economist, "The aftermath of the Weinstein scandal," 1 Mar. 2018
The second woman, a campaign operative who works with state Republicans, alleged in the complaint that Miccarelli was mentally and physically abusive.

— Philly.com, "Rep. Nick Miccarelli accused of abusive behavior and sexual misconduct," 28 Feb. 2018
Hawkes had a smaller role, as an abusive husband, in a similarly savage comedy last year: Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, directed by Martin McDonagh.

— mary kaye schilling, Newsweek, "Watch: ‘Small Town Crime,’ 2018’s First Great Dark Comedy, Starring John Hawkes," 8 Jan. 2018
On April 22nd Cho Yang-ho, chief executive of Hanjin Group, which owns Korean Air, was forced to remove his two daughters from their management positions for being abusive towards employees.

— The Economist, "Politicians’ battle against Korean conglomerates hits a snag," 26 Apr. 2018
In December, Twitter began enforcing new rules to reduce hateful conduct and abusive behavior.

— james rogers, Fox News, "Twitter tightens hate speech criteria to include disability after troll outrage," 23 Apr. 2018

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

Origin and Etymology of abusive

borrowed from Anglo-French abusif "misplaced, wrong, in error," borrowed from Late Latin abūsīvus "misused, catachrestic," from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī "to ²abuse" + -īvus -ive

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 1538

in the meaning defined at sense 2

See Words from the same year