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
Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
Those who attempt to expose the corruption and abuses fuelling cyber slavery are at risk.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Over the past quarter century, American tech companies to a large degree designed and built China’s surveillance state, playing a far greater role in enabling human rights abuses than previously known, an Associated Press investigation found.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
The men Blitzer interviewed reported regular abuses and instances of torture inside CECOT.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Pitted against the unforgettably evil Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a sadist who drugs and abuses the unlucky patients in her care, McMurphy’s stand against the oppressive powers that be is tragic and poignant and spoke to the spirit of a time in which so many felt misunderstood.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The largest ethnic group within that population is Burmese Muslims – known as Rohingya – who have been denied Burmese citizenship, faced widespread human rights abuses and, starting in 2016, genocide at the hands of the Burmese military.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile both warring parties have been accused of mass human rights abuses, with the death toll of the conflict likely surpassing 400,000.
—Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
These sanctions, the US claims, are meant to target rampant corruption and human rights abuses in the country, as well as its leaders’ undermining of democracy.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Duaa Eldeib, ProPublica, 10 Sep. 2025
Those who attempt to expose the corruption and abuses fuelling cyber slavery are at risk.
—Christine Ro, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Over the past quarter century, American tech companies to a large degree designed and built China’s surveillance state, playing a far greater role in enabling human rights abuses than previously known, an Associated Press investigation found.
—Sheryl Estrada, Fortune, 9 Sep. 2025
The men Blitzer interviewed reported regular abuses and instances of torture inside CECOT.
—David Remnick, New Yorker, 8 Sep. 2025
Pitted against the unforgettably evil Nurse Ratched (Louise Fletcher), a sadist who drugs and abuses the unlucky patients in her care, McMurphy’s stand against the oppressive powers that be is tragic and poignant and spoke to the spirit of a time in which so many felt misunderstood.
—Christina Newland, Vulture, 5 Sep. 2025
The largest ethnic group within that population is Burmese Muslims – known as Rohingya – who have been denied Burmese citizenship, faced widespread human rights abuses and, starting in 2016, genocide at the hands of the Burmese military.
—Sophie Carson, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Meanwhile both warring parties have been accused of mass human rights abuses, with the death toll of the conflict likely surpassing 400,000.
—Tasneem Nashrulla, semafor.com, 4 Sep. 2025
These sanctions, the US claims, are meant to target rampant corruption and human rights abuses in the country, as well as its leaders’ undermining of democracy.
—Andrew Raine, CNN Money, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
-
Egyptian influencers linked to intelligence fronts launched vicious personal attacks, including ethnic slurs, against the Saudi royal family and graphic insults targeting the crown prince.—
Khaled Hassan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Sep. 2025
-
After a brief pause, the messages resumed months later and escalated to 40-50 a day, ranging from insults about Lauryn’s appearance to alarming threats against her relationship.—
Jordana Comiter,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Even as Russia attacks power plants, grids, and neighborhoods, Ukraine’s energy system has endured and adapted, becoming a decentralized network that keeps homes lit, factories running, and morale intact.—
Ken Silverstein,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
Meanwhile, on the opposite side, Eze attacks the space vertically — rather than diagonally behind the centre-backs — to be in Pedro Porro’s blindside as Munoz is carrying the ball forward.—
Ahmed Walid,
New York Times,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
My Pafology, later retitled Fuck, a book that exploits nearly every Black stereotype.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
-
Whether through cyber operations, intellectual property theft, or now these scam centers, China exploits grey zones that provide strategic advantage while maintaining deniability.—
Mike Kuiken,
MSNBC Newsweek,
8 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Following Kirk’s death, his supporters flooded X with their criticisms of the episode.—
Tim Lammers,
Forbes.com,
11 Sep. 2025
-
In the backdrop, the film also weathered criticisms over its portrayal of Mexico and transpeople.—
Melanie Goodfellow,
Deadline,
10 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The steep new parking surcharge slams the brakes on that, hitting both visitors and the workers who would have served them.—
Phillip Molnar,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
5 Sep. 2025
-
Except Steven gets in a car wreck in episode two of season three, and trauma slams Belly and Jeremiah back together.—
Bethy Squires,
Vulture,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The hurricane center uses only the top four or five highest-performing models to help make its forecasts.—
Gabe Hauari,
USA Today,
10 Sep. 2025
-
At the WellChild Awards in London on Monday, May 8, Harry, 40, chatted with 13-year-old Grace Tutt, a Special Recognition winner who uses a wheelchair following a bus crash.—
Erin Hill,
People.com,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
5 Sep. 2025
-
After all, if an attacker hijacks the agent’s credentials or manipulates its input data, the agent could take harmful actions faster and more persistently than any human user.—
Michael DeCesare,
Forbes.com,
11 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
This diabolical, maximalist group oppresses Gazans and its existence ensures the Palestinians will not have a state.—
Zoltan Istvan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.
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