abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv 

also -ziv

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

abusively adverb

abusiveness noun

Synonyms of abusive

• insulting
• outrageous
• obscene
• vituperative
• malicious
• offensive
• scurrilous
• vitriolic
• opprobrious
• invective

Examples of abusive in a Sentence

The fans yelled abusive comments to the referee.

protecting wives from abusive husbands

Recent Examples on the Web

Livia’s sister-in-law invokes the poem when Livia learns, to her surprise, that her manipulative, abusive mother had been a frustrated musician. — Sam Worley, Vulture, 5 Oct. 2026

Rating sites filled up with one-star scores, and the social media accounts of cast members drew abusive comments. — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 5 Oct. 2026

Ken Urker, the partner of Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who became the subject of intense media attention for her role in killing her abusive mother, has died. — Amarachi Orie, CNN Money, 2 Oct. 2026

His research interests include event system theory and workplace behaviors, especially proactive behaviors (such as creativity and citizenship), and counterproductive ones (such as turnover and abusive supervision). — Cynthia Lee, Harvard Business Review, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1538, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Rhymes for abusive

• allusive
• collusive
• conclusive
• conducive
• delusive
• diffusive
• elusive
• exclusive
• extrusive
• illusive
• inclusive
• intrusive

Kids Definition

abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv 

-ziv

: using or characterized by abuse

abusively adverb

abusiveness noun

Legal Definition

abusive

adjective

abu·​sive ə-ˈbyü-siv, -ziv 

1

: characterized by wrong or improper use or action

abusive tax shelters

2

: inflicting verbal or physical abuse

abusive parents

abusively adverb