1
as in insult
harsh insulting language
hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misuse
incorrect or improper use
naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bully
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in to misuse
to put to a bad or improper use
if you abuse your baseball bat by using it to hammer nails, don't expect it to last long
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to use
to take unfair advantage of
abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice
Synonyms & Similar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abuse
Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2026
In an interview with the Tribune, Hicks said she’s sought help through Narcotics Anonymous and has even been a speaker at meetings about the prison system and her past struggles with substance abuse.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Feb. 2026
This struggle creates a tension that keeps the whole system in equilibrium, restraining those who would abuse their authority.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abuse
Noun
Iran wanted the talks confined only to guarantees about the civilian purpose of its nuclear program, not its missile program, support of regional proxy groups or human rights abuses.
—Nina Srinivasan Rathbun, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2026
In an interview with the Tribune, Hicks said she’s sought help through Narcotics Anonymous and has even been a speaker at meetings about the prison system and her past struggles with substance abuse.
—Jeremy Gorner, Chicago Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026
Verb
That can expose you to abuse, blacklisting or deeper network vulnerabilities.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 27 Feb. 2026
This struggle creates a tension that keeps the whole system in equilibrium, restraining those who would abuse their authority.
—Chris Roemer, Baltimore Sun, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuse
Noun
-
Recovery has scarcely begun, but insult is being added to fire victims’ injuries as local officials — especially Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass — engage in a tawdry game of finger-pointing.—
Dan Walters,
Oc Register,
4 Mar. 2026
-
The last of these, which would have been an insult in previous eras, is part of the Buttigieg value proposition.—
Graeme Wood,
The Atlantic,
3 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Under California law, police agencies are required to adopt detailed usage and privacy policies governing license plate data, restrict access to authorized purposes, and regularly audit searches to prevent misuse.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
1 Mar. 2026
-
In the nonprofit and governmental finance world, auditors are required to assess not only whether fraud has occurred but whether systems of internal control are designed and operating effectively to prevent and detect material misstatements or misuse of funds.—
Helen Amos,
Baltimore Sun,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
There was a natural legacy to build on in Detroit—not only the Bad Boys of the nineteen-eighties and early nineties but also the bullying team that won the title in 2004.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Weinstein and his lawyers argued that the retrial verdict was tainted by infighting and bullying among jurors.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Azerbaijan's Foreign Ministry said in a statement that Iranian drones attacked its exclave of Nakhchivan and damaged an airport building.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Mar. 2026
-
But threats from Iran to attack any ships in the region outweigh the promises of support.—
Vanessa Yurkevich,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
When Carolyn finally walked through the doors at the back of the chapel and down the aisle, Reverend O’Byrne had to lead the pair through their vows using a flashlight.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
-
DiBlasi said that using AI in social interactions stunts emotional growth and can perpetuate feelings of loneliness and isolation.—
Asuka Koda,
CNN Money,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Be willing to listen to criticism.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
6 Mar. 2026
-
Traders landing six-figure payouts associated with the capture of Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro and the death of Iran's supreme leader drew criticism from lawmakers in Washington and critics of the apps.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
One of them was a person whose eight-month-old baby was tortured in front of his eyes.—
Cora Engelbrecht,
New Yorker,
1 Mar. 2026
-
Crackdowns against the protesters killed hundreds, and hundreds more were arrested amid reports of detainees tortured to death or raped in prison.—
Lee Keath,
Fortune,
1 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Western North Carolina was slammed in 2024 with catastrophic flooding from Hurricane Helene, and Edwards has been grilled by both Democrats and Republicans for slow delivery of recovery funds.—
Caitlin Yilek,
CBS News,
4 Mar. 2026
-
On Earth, the aurora occurs when charged solar particles slam into the magnetosphere, which directs them toward the poles.—
Stefanie Waldek,
Space.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuse. Accessed 7 Mar. 2026.
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