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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abuses
Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026
This frustrating bureaucratic situation has been part of California’s landscape for 50-plus years and there’s been no hope to rein in the abuses, but the tide seems to be turning following a variety of court cases and legislative efforts to limit the commission’s powers.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The ex-staffer is accusing Jenner, 28, of various abuses during her employment, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to pay wages and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026
More than 200 participating artists, curators and workers signed an open letter last month demanding the Venice Biennale exclude Israel’s pavilion over human rights abuses in Gaza.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The House sent its three-year extension of section 702 to the Senate on Wednesday, which included oversight guardrails and penalties for abuses of the spy program.
—Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, 30 Apr. 2026
Over the years, Miranda has been slapped on the wrist enough times by human resources to curb her abuses.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
We were supposed to be the ones who were preventing a lot of these abuses.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
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
In the final video, Pierce can be seen shirtless, with bruises showing, while Ruffin verbally abuses him, Facklam said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Noun
He was arrested in Chile in 2005, extradited to Peru in 2007, and later convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison for human rights abuses, in addition to other yearslong sentences for corruption.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 2 May 2026
This frustrating bureaucratic situation has been part of California’s landscape for 50-plus years and there’s been no hope to rein in the abuses, but the tide seems to be turning following a variety of court cases and legislative efforts to limit the commission’s powers.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The ex-staffer is accusing Jenner, 28, of various abuses during her employment, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to pay wages and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026
More than 200 participating artists, curators and workers signed an open letter last month demanding the Venice Biennale exclude Israel’s pavilion over human rights abuses in Gaza.
—Jacqui Palumbo, CNN Money, 1 May 2026
The House sent its three-year extension of section 702 to the Senate on Wednesday, which included oversight guardrails and penalties for abuses of the spy program.
—Hailey Bullis, The Washington Examiner, 30 Apr. 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Charles Ornstein, ProPublica, 30 Apr. 2026
Over the years, Miranda has been slapped on the wrist enough times by human resources to curb her abuses.
—Justin Chang, New Yorker, 29 Apr. 2026
We were supposed to be the ones who were preventing a lot of these abuses.
—Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 25 Apr. 2026
Verb
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
In the final video, Pierce can be seen shirtless, with bruises showing, while Ruffin verbally abuses him, Facklam said.
—Clifford Ward, Chicago Tribune, 9 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
-
The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
There are state laws concerning specific misuses of AI but some legislators are attempting to put broader guardrails in place.—
KATHERINE LIN,
ABC News,
20 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
-
The president frequently attacks the former FBI director because of his role in investigating alleged ties between the president's 2016 campaign and Russia.—
Melissa Quinn,
CBS News,
28 Apr. 2026
-
The movement from Odegaard and Zubimendi towards the ball occupies Willock and Guimaraes, while White attacks the space vacated by the Newcastle captain and Havertz drops to provide a passing option.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lockwood exploits that conundrum, and even takes part in it.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
If anything looks off, a professional inspection is a smart investment — far cheaper than an emergency roof repair after a storm exploits an existing weak spot.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Faced with these criticisms, SEJ affirmed its commitment to ethical journalism centered on objectivity and balanced news reporting.—
Encyclopedia Britannica,
Encyclopedia Britannica,
1 May 2026
-
After Democrat Eric Swalwell dropped out of the race and Xavier Becerra became a surprise contender, Lee began retweeting criticisms of the former California attorney general, several of which focused on a $39,200 donation Becerra’s campaign received last summer from the oil company Chevron.—
Kate Wolffe,
Sacbee.com,
1 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
-
In other words, automatic registration slams the courthouse door on women, but not on men, because registration is its own injury.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
-
In the standard picture, particles gain energy at a termination shock, where the pulsar wind slams into surrounding material.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 8 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
