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
Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Congress must refuse to let pass any DHS appropriations bill that increases its funding and fails to include measures to prevent its abuses of power.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Higdon added that bystander videos have been a vital counterbalance to police abuses, pointing to the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer that became notorious only after a citizen’s video contradicted an initial police account.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Some of those restrictions are a result of a history of abuses by the FBI during the Civil Rights era.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Others have taken a different approach, introducing legislation intended to curb alleged abuses by federal agents.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Maine refused to issue undercover license plates to Customs and Border Protection, citing concerns about abuses of power and unlawful enforcement tactics.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
For example, some 50% of the world’s raw cobalt production comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been linked to issues like armed conflict, human rights abuses, and harmful environmental practices.
—Katherine Gallagher, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
Reactions to the shootings, from public protests to online arguments, reflect a deep divide in how they're seen — as tragic abuses of power or law enforcement officers acting in self-defense.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 9 Jan. 2026
Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 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
But outside of the ring, Christy hides and represses her lesbianism and winds up marrying her trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who manipulates and physically abuses her.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
Chiarella is particularly interested in the abuses of conversion therapy, which hideously imagines that something innate can be excised or, at least, wholly ignored.
—Richard Lawson, HollywoodReporter, 24 Jan. 2026
Congress must refuse to let pass any DHS appropriations bill that increases its funding and fails to include measures to prevent its abuses of power.
—Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 Jan. 2026
Higdon added that bystander videos have been a vital counterbalance to police abuses, pointing to the 2020 murder of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer that became notorious only after a citizen’s video contradicted an initial police account.
—Robert Salonga, Mercury News, 23 Jan. 2026
Some of those restrictions are a result of a history of abuses by the FBI during the Civil Rights era.
—Isabelle Chapman, CNN Money, 21 Jan. 2026
Others have taken a different approach, introducing legislation intended to curb alleged abuses by federal agents.
—CBS News, 21 Jan. 2026
Maine refused to issue undercover license plates to Customs and Border Protection, citing concerns about abuses of power and unlawful enforcement tactics.
—Jack Brook, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2026
For example, some 50% of the world’s raw cobalt production comes from the Democratic Republic of Congo and has been linked to issues like armed conflict, human rights abuses, and harmful environmental practices.
—Katherine Gallagher, Treehugger, 20 Jan. 2026
Reactions to the shootings, from public protests to online arguments, reflect a deep divide in how they're seen — as tragic abuses of power or law enforcement officers acting in self-defense.
—Juliana Kim, NPR, 9 Jan. 2026
Verb
In the film, Victor emotionally abuses the Creature.
—Jazz Tangcay, Variety, 7 Nov. 2025
Anyone who abuses a position of power and jeopardizes our national security will be held accountable.
—Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 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
But outside of the ring, Christy hides and represses her lesbianism and winds up marrying her trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who manipulates and physically abuses her.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
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The president also called Walz and Frey himself Monday after weeks of hurling insults and accusing the Democratic officials of inciting resistance to the crackdown.—
Dave Goldiner,
New York Daily News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
The crowd, rapidly swelling into the hundreds, screamed insults and obscenities at the agents, some of whom shouted back mockingly.—
Jack Brook,
Los Angeles Times,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
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Second, that the occasional misuses of that discretion would be few, far between, and manageable by the court system through robust testing and oversight.—
Paul Rosenzweig,
The Atlantic,
12 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Henry Bowers is the local punk who relentlessly bullies the Losers' Club and later falls under the spell of Pennywise.—
Randall Colburn,
Entertainment Weekly,
15 Dec. 2025
-
Cipher bullies other characters across the season about their powers, but because of Andre and Polarity’s degenerative abilities, this underscores the eugenics behind his beliefs.—
Jackie Strause,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Is a taboo crossed when someone attacks?—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
24 Jan. 2026
-
Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune, inflammatory form of arthritis, meaning a person’s immune system attacks their joints, causing substantial inflammation.—
Kevin Deane,
The Conversation,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Much as a private security company exploits rising risks to increase the cost of its services, Washington exploits European vulnerability and enjoys the attendant escalation of tension between Russia and its European allies.—
Ivan Krastev,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
-
While the American military base RDA relentlessly exploits Pandora, Sully and his family seek refuge with the reef-dwelling, aquatic clan of Metkayina.—
James Mercadante,
Entertainment Weekly,
20 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Asked about Newsom’s criticisms, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent went full Don Rickles.—
Susan Shelley,
Oc Register,
24 Jan. 2026
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When asked about Camarda’s criticisms of the CIT, Olivas acknowledged that no computer modeling program is completely accurate.—
Jackie Wattles,
CNN Money,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The retrospection tortures her.—
Alexandra Rockey Fleming,
PEOPLE,
14 Jan. 2026
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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
-
Winter storm slams the East While Arizona's system is mostly a light-rain and mountain-snow setup, a sprawling winter storm is creating far bigger problems across the eastern half of the country.—
Hayleigh Evans,
AZCentral.com,
23 Jan. 2026
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Continue reading … 'UNACCEPTABLE' – Prominent Catholic bishop slams anti-ICE agitators who disrupted MN church service.—
,
FOXNews.com,
20 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 31 Jan. 2026.
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