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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of abuse
Hassan Hassan, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2025
Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Bowles abuses those pass-blocking rules by stunting the three-technique, Logan Hall (90), across the left guard's face, knowing the guard will follow him.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abuse
Noun
How are they reintegrated into an army dominated by men long accused of abuses against Kurdish women?
—Hassan Hassan, Time, 11 Oct. 2025
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Sharon Lerner, ProPublica, 10 Oct. 2025
Verb
She was abused to hell and back.
—Rachael O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 8 Oct. 2025
Bowles abuses those pass-blocking rules by stunting the three-technique, Logan Hall (90), across the left guard's face, knowing the guard will follow him.
—Derrik Klassen, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuse
Noun
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Several diss tracks followed, with the musicians hurling increasingly spiteful insults at each other relating to accusations of domestic abuse, exploitation and pedophilia.—
Ethan Millman,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
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After a small crowd outside Boston’s customs house pelted redcoats with rocks, snowballs, and insults, the soldiers opened fire, killing five and wounding 12 more.—
Time,
Time,
9 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
Supporters Emphasize Labor Protection Supporters of the changes argue that the rules are overdue to prevent misuse of the program.—
Robert Alexander,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Oct. 2025
-
To treat stimulant misuse, the best evidence is for contingency management, Friedman said.—
Ciara McCarthy,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
7 Oct. 2025
Verb
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How will Fangio rejuvenate a defense that got bullied by a 1-4 Giants team?—
The Athletic NFL Staff,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
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Tallulah Willis celebrated her resemblance to her famous dad Bruce Willis while calling out adults who bullied her looks as a teenager.—
Jessica Wang,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Gunmen attacked the Nova Music Festival and Kibbutz Be’eri, among other targets.—
Yamiche Alcindor,
NBC news,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Chiefs edge rusher George Karlaftis is capable of lining up on both sides, and Spagnuolo should look to exploit what could be a vulnerable area to attack the Lions’ front.—
Pete Sweeney,
Kansas City Star,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Little kids will enjoy its pre-programmed songs and dances, while older kids can use a smart app to program new movement patterns and routines.—
Anja Webb,
Parents,
7 Oct. 2025
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Participants will learn the differences between dabbling and diving ducks, their unique characteristics and how to use eBird to find local waterfowl viewing hot spots.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
7 Oct. 2025
Noun
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Trump’s administration was right to send an emissary after ICE’s Hyundai raid to express regret and negotiate a new business visa process for South Koreans, despite criticism from the more anti-immigrant MAGA base.—
Eleanor Pringle,
Fortune,
10 Oct. 2025
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Rimes has described experiencing cycles of praise and harsh criticism — both as a child star and during her affair with Cibrian.—
Ashley Hume,
FOXNews.com,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The Jays tortured the Yankees all season, and notched one final win 5-2 in Game 4 of the AL Division Series on Wednesday.—
The Athletic MLB Staff,
New York Times,
9 Oct. 2025
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Murphy also revealed there would be a focus on the Hungarian noblewoman Elizabeth Báthory, who, along with her servants, was accused of torturing and killing hundreds of young women in the late 16th and early 17th centuries.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
9 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Rachel Dratch scolded Jimmy Fallon and Horatio Sanz for laughing while rehearsing the original Debbie Downer sketch on Saturday Night Live.—
Wesley Stenzel,
Entertainment Weekly,
10 Oct. 2025
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There, she is repeatedly scolded, first by a testy parking attendant (Mark Stolzenberg), and then by a doctor (Bronstein), who warns Linda of consequences if her daughter doesn’t soon reach her target weight of fifty pounds.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuse. Accessed 13 Oct. 2025.
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