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
Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The conference’s primary sponsor was the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which the watchdog group Human Rights Watch has accused of benefitting from human rights abuses.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Pritzker has established a commission to catalogue potential abuses.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Continental and regional bodies, including the African Union, have been criticized for failing to address human rights abuses in Tanzania ahead of the election.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Indonesia invaded Timor-Leste just a week after Portugal withdrew, leading to almost a quarter-century of occupation marked by severe human rights abuses.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
While the world gushes over Africa’s natural resources, trouble brews with utilizing them—pollution, corruption, human rights abuses, criminal infiltration.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Audrey Dutton, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
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
Yet even among a number of Christians seeking to raise awareness and intensify efforts to put an end to systematic abuses committed by Boko Haram and other jihadi movements, the prospect of foreign intervention raises serious concerns.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2025
The conference’s primary sponsor was the Saudi Public Investment Fund, which the watchdog group Human Rights Watch has accused of benefitting from human rights abuses.
—Claire Heddles, Miami Herald, 5 Nov. 2025
Pritzker has established a commission to catalogue potential abuses.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025
Continental and regional bodies, including the African Union, have been criticized for failing to address human rights abuses in Tanzania ahead of the election.
—Martin K.n Siele, semafor.com, 31 Oct. 2025
Indonesia invaded Timor-Leste just a week after Portugal withdrew, leading to almost a quarter-century of occupation marked by severe human rights abuses.
—Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
While the world gushes over Africa’s natural resources, trouble brews with utilizing them—pollution, corruption, human rights abuses, criminal infiltration.
—Charlie Campbell, Time, 30 Oct. 2025
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Audrey Dutton, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
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
-
On screen, Lawrence and Pattinson hurl nonstop insults at each other in loud bursts of verbal warfare, a striking contrast to the duo’s quieter working relationship.—
Antonio Ferme,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
-
The race has been no short of dogged, as insults between the candidates on the debate stage have led to archives investigations and defamation lawsuit threats.—
Molly Parks,
The Washington Examiner,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
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
-
Berkley’s dies by suicide by jumping off a balcony outside their office window; Simpson’s goes crazy and attacks her ex with sulfuric acid.—
Alison Herman,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
-
For this new study in particular, the researchers focused on the 5FU, which often both fails to reach cancer cells efficiently and attacks healthy tissue—causing side effects like nausea, fatigue and, in rare cases, even heart failure.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
This scam exploits wireless technology to withdraw money without your awareness.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
Kimmel’s exploits catching — and sometimes getting bitten by — giant pythons are the stuff of legend in Florida.—
Rich Schapiro,
NBC news,
2 Nov. 2025
Noun
-
The Chinese retailer, known for its range of cheap ultra-fast-fashion clothing and criticisms of its labor and environmental practices, is nestled on the sixth floor of a more than century-old building in Paris, a city famous for high-end fashion and a recent green push.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
7 Nov. 2025
-
But challenges and criticisms remain, including a recent mass shooting at a homeless encampment, state and federal consent decrees and questions about police’s interaction with federal immigration enforcement.—
Eric Levenson,
CNN Money,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
Now, a sinister witch (Sarah Stephens) who bathes her broomstick in the woods tortures their existence, abducting their infant and leaving the family in shambles.—
Michael Lee Simpson,
Entertainment Weekly,
29 Oct. 2025
-
The mistake tortures them, which prompts the couple to try and solve the mystery by producing a fake play in an attempt to get their ex-neighbor Mary (Chloe Cherry) to audition.—
Christian Zilko,
IndieWire,
3 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Scientists have always assumed that when this stellar ejecta violently slams into dense gas surrounding the dying star, known as the circumstellar medium, this generates narrow emission lines in the light or spectra seen from Type II supernovas.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
30 Oct. 2025
-
Jamaica reels after Hurricane Melissa slams into the island, severely damaging roads and hospitals.—
Christian Orozco,
NBC news,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Kwei uses his last breath to send his brother to Genna, offering him a chance to at least attempt his first hunt.—
Sergio Pereira,
Space.com,
4 Nov. 2025
-
The Dancing with the Stars contestant also uses the Body patches.—
Jackie Fields,
PEOPLE,
4 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 11 Nov. 2025.
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