1
as in insults
harsh insulting language
hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misuses
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 bullies
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 attacks
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 perverts
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 exploits
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 abuses
Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In 2011, former members complained to the archdiocese in Peru’s capital, Lima, about abuses by its founder, Luis Figari.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
That policy began in the late 1970s in a post-Watergate crackdown on presidential abuses after Richard Nixon was found to have claimed dubious deductions — including a donation of his personal papers — that led to big underpayments.
—Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Types Muckraking The term muckraking, popularized during the Progressive Era (1890s–1920s), refers to an early form of investigative reporting that focused on exposing corruption, social injustice, and abuses of power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026
One of those individuals was later convicted in Greece in February in connection to Predator abuses in that country.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 19 May 2026
The 2016 act authorizes the president to impose economic sanctions and visa bans on foreign individuals or entities worldwide responsible for gross human rights abuses or significant corruption.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
The barbarity of the institution, meanwhile, is self-evident—but rarely does an author present its abuses so powerfully and vividly.
—The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
According to Lewkowitz, if a grower abuses the soil, the system ceases to be viable, leaving zero likelihood of success from a sustainability standpoint.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 Apr. 2026
Under my watch, anyone who abuses wildlife in Florida will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Its leader, the president, abuses power, hurts the innocent, and mocks the dead before their families have even begun to grieve.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
The insurer said during a Senate committee hearing that Nutex abuses the independent dispute resolution process, which was intended by the federal No Surprises Act to be a last resort in cases where providers and health insurers can’t agree on what should be paid for out-of-network care.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Malware often abuses them to take control of your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
As a child, Heathcliff’s main tormenter is Cathy’s brother, Hindley, who physically abuses Heathcliff and forces him to work in the stables as a servant.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
International watchdogs warn of democratic backsliding under Vucic, citing police abuses and pressure on critics, while Serbia’s bid for European Union membership faces potential funding cuts over eroding rule of law.
—Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In 2011, former members complained to the archdiocese in Peru’s capital, Lima, about abuses by its founder, Luis Figari.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
That policy began in the late 1970s in a post-Watergate crackdown on presidential abuses after Richard Nixon was found to have claimed dubious deductions — including a donation of his personal papers — that led to big underpayments.
—Fatima Hussein, Chicago Tribune, 22 May 2026
Types Muckraking The term muckraking, popularized during the Progressive Era (1890s–1920s), refers to an early form of investigative reporting that focused on exposing corruption, social injustice, and abuses of power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026
One of those individuals was later convicted in Greece in February in connection to Predator abuses in that country.
—Jude Joffe-Block, NPR, 19 May 2026
The 2016 act authorizes the president to impose economic sanctions and visa bans on foreign individuals or entities worldwide responsible for gross human rights abuses or significant corruption.
—Nora Gámez Torres, Miami Herald, 18 May 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Nicole Foy, ProPublica, 15 May 2026
The barbarity of the institution, meanwhile, is self-evident—but rarely does an author present its abuses so powerfully and vividly.
—The Atlantic, 14 May 2026
Verb
People deserve a government that watches out for our people’s best interests, not one that abuses its powers and sells us to the highest bidder.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
According to Lewkowitz, if a grower abuses the soil, the system ceases to be viable, leaving zero likelihood of success from a sustainability standpoint.
—Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 Apr. 2026
Under my watch, anyone who abuses wildlife in Florida will be held accountable to the fullest extent of the law.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2026
Its leader, the president, abuses power, hurts the innocent, and mocks the dead before their families have even begun to grieve.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 23 Mar. 2026
During the tantrum, the child verbally abuses the parent and also destroys property within the home.
—Sherri Gordon, Parents, 15 Mar. 2026
The insurer said during a Senate committee hearing that Nutex abuses the independent dispute resolution process, which was intended by the federal No Surprises Act to be a last resort in cases where providers and health insurers can’t agree on what should be paid for out-of-network care.
—Angela Palermo, Idaho Statesman, 5 Mar. 2026
Malware often abuses them to take control of your device.
—Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 14 Feb. 2026
As a child, Heathcliff’s main tormenter is Cathy’s brother, Hindley, who physically abuses Heathcliff and forces him to work in the stables as a servant.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
-
But between rapid-fire questions and candidates hurling insults or talking over one another, the chaotic nature of some debate moments did little to help undecided voters make up their minds about their preferred candidate, some political observers said.—
Linh Tat,
Daily News,
14 May 2026
-
Sometimes, there’s no better way to pay tribute to a dear friend than by lambasting them with insults.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
13 May 2026
Noun
-
The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA) prohibits specific intentional misuses and establishes a 36-month regulatory sandbox.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
-
These moves come as actors, musicians, influencers and athletes face a growing use of generative AI platforms that spawn deepfakes and other misuses which exploit the identities of high-profile figures.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
The Pledge is meaningless if the president of the United States lies to us, divides us, bullies us and steals from us.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Collective action deters bullies Harvard never stood alone.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Hsu attacks the transformation with fearless physical comedy and emotional sincerity, balancing the musical's absurdity with genuine warmth.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
19 May 2026
-
OpenClaw attacks that problem directly.—
Oleg Malii,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
The zero-day actually exploits a vulnerability first reported in September 2020, by James Forshaw from the Google Project Zero research team.—
Davey Winder,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
-
To overcome this, researchers at ETH Zurich used a subtler effect called the geometric phase, which exploits the path taken by atoms through an artificial ‘crystal of light’ built from intersecting laser beams.—
Ameya Paleja,
Interesting Engineering,
12 May 2026
Noun
-
The growing costs have fueled criticisms from challengers and some lawyers involved in litigation against the city, who argue incumbent City Attorney Hydee Feldstein Soto has mishandled settlement strategy and over-relied on outside counsel.—
Teresa Liu,
Daily News,
23 May 2026
-
All these half-serious demands notably echo criticisms of and allegations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration in recent times.—
Britannica Editors,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
23 May 2026
Verb
-
The retrospection tortures her.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
-
Later, in one of the movie's most satisfying scenes, Millie locks Andrew in the attic and tortures him by loudly smashing each plate.—
Lauren Huff,
Entertainment Weekly,
19 Dec. 2025
Verb
-
Debris slams against the other side, whips beneath the door, slashing cuts into Jones’ and the doctor’s ankles.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
-
Then, the giant lawyer puppet slams upright, sending the contestant back to the start.—
Sarah Shachat,
IndieWire,
19 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 25 May. 2026.
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