Synonyms of abuses

abuses 1 of 2

noun

plural of abuse

1

as in insults

harsh insulting language

hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insults
• criticisms
• vituperations
• invectives
• curses
• scurrilities
• fulminations
• vitriols
• epithets
• slurs
• obloquies
• blasphemies
• vilifications
• billingsgates
• reprimands
• maledictions
• imprecations
• profanities
• disparagements
• execrations
• blackguardisms
• excoriations
• expletives
• rebukes
• polemics
• swearwords
• tirades
• castigations
• chastisements
• reproofs
• aspersions
• put-downs
• revilements
• diatribes
• harangues
• belittlements
• opprobriums
• broadsides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praises
• acclaim
• commendations
• compliments
• congratulations
• applauses
• endearments
• felicitations
• flatteries
• soft soaps
• adulations
• overpraises
• blarneys

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

• misuses
• perversions
• misapplications
• corruptions
• misusages
• misemployments
• misutilizations
• ruins
• debasements
• mismanagements
• mistreatments
• destructions
• damages
• desecrations
• ill-treatments
• prostitutions
• maltreatments
• profanations
• ill-usages

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• applications
• uses
• employments
• utilizations

abuses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of abuse

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

• bullies
• tortures
• misuses
• oppresses
• violates
• mistreats
• injures
• hurts
• brutalizes
• persecutes
• maltreats
• outrages
• manhandles
• takes apart
• mishandles
• ill-treats
• ill-uses
• torments
• harasses
• harms
• messes over
• molests
• wrongs
• victimizes
• kicks around
• works (over)
• beats (up)
• burns
• sandbags
• roughs (up)
• messes (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fosters
• cares (for)
• nurtures
• cherishes
• babies
• favors
• indulges
• caters (to)
• spoils
• gratifies
• pampers
• humors
• coddles
• mollycoddles

2

as in attacks

to criticize harshly and usually publicly

a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attacks
• slams
• scolds
• insults
• criticizes
• blasts
• savages
• excoriates
• jumps (on)
• assails
• curses
• ties into
• vituperates
• harasses
• bashes
• lambastes
• castigates
• belabors
• sails into
• scathes
• trashes
• affronts
• reviles
• potshots
• reprimands
• harangues
• beats up on
• berates
• blasphemes
• lights into
• harries
• slurs
• slanders
• execrates
• disparages
• belittles
• profanes
• libels
• whips
• vilifies
• imprecates
• rebukes
• bad-mouths
• chastises
• fulminates
• lashes (out)
• chides
• asperses
• traduces
• blackguards
• laces (into)
• puts down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praises
• commends
• compliments
• hails
• lauds
• acclaims

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

• misuses
• perverts
• prostitutes
• misapplies
• profanes
• corrupts
• twists
• degrades
• misemploys
• desecrates
• mismanages
• debases

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uses
• applies
• employs
• utilizes
• respects

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

• exploits
• uses
• manipulates
• leverages
• plays (on or upon)
• imposes (on or upon)
• capitalizes (on)
• cashes in (on)
• milks
• walks on
• cheats
• pimps
• trades on
• works
• mistreats
• overcharges
• jerks around
• bleeds
• commodifies
• sticks
• fleeces
• soaks
• commercializes
• skins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abuses

Noun

These were abuses of state power under al-Sharaa’s authority. — Jason M. Blazakis, The Conversation, 27 Aug. 2026

The Arakan Army now controls most of Rakhine and stands accused of its own abuses against Rohingya civilians, while a junta blockade has halted food, medicine and aid, driving hunger across the territory. — Lorcan Lovett, NPR, 25 Aug. 2026

John Albers is calling for improvements after abuses of Flock Safety’s license plate cameras. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 25 Aug. 2026

David Jolly left the Republican Party because its abuses were incompatible with his faith. — Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 24 Aug. 2026

Rights groups have raised concerns about the treatment of migrants and asylum seekers in Tunisia since the EU agreement, including reports of collective expulsions, racial violence, arbitrary detention and abuses against Black migrants. — ABC News, 22 Aug. 2026

This story was reported by The Washington Post and ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power. — Molly Hensley-Clancy, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2026

His corruption and abuses of power have been let loose at a scale that was previously only imagined. — Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 20 Aug. 2026

Human rights observers have long documented the influence and the abuses of Pakistan’s military and intelligence services in the territory. — Aqil Shah, Time, 17 Aug. 2026

Verb

Detectives will continue investigating these cases aggressively, and anyone who abuses their position with a child will be held accountable. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

New York City’s child welfare agency routinely abuses its emergency power to take children from their parents without a court order, creating lifelong consequences for families, a new class-action lawsuit seeking to end the practice alleged Thursday. — Cayla Bamberger, New York Daily News, 28 May 2026

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

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

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