abuse

1 harsh insulting language hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team Synonyms of abuse billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation Words Related to abuse blackguardism; blasphemy, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction, profanity; epithet, insult, put-down, slur; expletive, swearword; aspersion, bad-mouthing, belittlement, disparagement, revilement, vilification; castigation, chastisement, criticism, excoriation, opprobrium, rebuke, reprimand, reproof; broadside, diatribe, harangue, polemic, tirade Near Antonyms of abuse acclaim, applause, commendation, praise; compliments, congratulations, endearments, felicitations; adulation, blarney, flattery, overpraise, soft soap

2 incorrect or improper use naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family Synonyms of abuse misuse, misapplication, misemployment, misusage, misutilization, perversionWords Related to abuse mishandling, mismanagement, mismanaging; ill-treatment, ill-usage, maltreatment, mistreatment; damage, destruction, ruin, spoiling, wrecking; corruption, debasement, desecration, profanation, prostitutionNear Antonyms of abuse application, employment, use, utilization

1 to inflict physical or emotional harm upon if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition Synonyms of abuse brutalize, bully, ill-treat, ill-use, kick around, maltreat, manhandle, mess over [slang], mishandle, mistreat, misuse Words Related to abuse molest, outrage, violate; harass, harm, hurt, injure, oppress, persecute, torment, torture; burn, sandbag, victimize, wrong; beat (up), mess (up), rough (up), work (over) Phrases take apart Near Antonyms of abuse care (for), cherish, foster, nurture; baby, cater (to), coddle, favor, gratify, humor, indulge, mollycoddle, pamper, spoil

2 to criticize harshly and usually publicly a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides Synonyms of abuse attack, assail, bash, belabor, blast, castigate, excoriate, jump (on), lambaste (or lambast), potshot, savage, scathe, slam, trash, vituperateWords Related to abuse berate, harangue, harass, harry, revile, scold, whip; 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)Near Antonyms of abuse acclaim, commend, compliment, hail, laud, praise

3 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 of abuse misapply, misemploy, misuse, pervert, profane, prostituteWords Related to abuse degrade, twist; mismanage; corrupt, debase, desecrateNear Antonyms of abuse apply, employ, use, utilize; respect

4 to take unfair advantage of abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice Synonyms of abuse exploit, capitalize (on), cash in (on), impose (on or upon), leverage, milk, pimp, play (on or upon), use, workWords Related to abuse jerk around, manipulate, mistreat; bleed, cheat, fleece, overcharge, skin, soak, stick; commercialize, commodify