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
Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 6 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
If troops in our capital feel ordinary, then so do other abuses.
—Aron Solomon
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
In recent years, Pakistan and India have escalated abuses of colonial-era sedition laws—using the same provisions under which Mahatma Gandhi was famously tried a century ago.
—Stephen Townley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Alongside the film’s Executive Producer Alex Gibney, Peck will discuss cinema as a tool of resistance, the urgency of reclaiming historical narratives, and the role of documentary filmmakers in challenging abuses of power.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 2025
Brian Truitt, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Noun
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Robert Faturechi, ProPublica, 6 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
If troops in our capital feel ordinary, then so do other abuses.
—Aron Solomon
september 3, Literary Hub, 3 Sep. 2025
In recent years, Pakistan and India have escalated abuses of colonial-era sedition laws—using the same provisions under which Mahatma Gandhi was famously tried a century ago.
—Stephen Townley, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
Alongside the film’s Executive Producer Alex Gibney, Peck will discuss cinema as a tool of resistance, the urgency of reclaiming historical narratives, and the role of documentary filmmakers in challenging abuses of power.
—Matthew Carey, Deadline, 28 Aug. 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
-
Perhaps Florence might have learned to cast aside the envy that seemed to be suppressed only by her outbursts and insults, her ever-increasing appetite, a collection of maladies that seemed to anger and horrify her father even further.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Sep. 2025
-
When big gatherings of police and federal agents suddenly show up in residential areas, crowds often meet them with cell phone cameras, righteous indignation and insults.—
Daniel C. Vock,
Chicago Tribune,
31 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Dennis tries to hug Roman, but Roman attacks him, punching him multiple times before leaving the hotel room.—
Barry Levitt,
Time,
5 Sep. 2025
-
After Wednesday disables the machine with an axe, Isaac’s ability no longer works, and Thing attacks him.—
Dessi Gomez,
Deadline,
4 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The Chinese team developed a material that exploits this gradient to produce electricity.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Sep. 2025
-
Community forum pages dedicated to rating Greek life organizations show some evidence of the chapters’ exploits over the last three years.—
Judy L. Thomas,
Kansas City Star,
24 Aug. 2025
Noun
-
The forward will miss the first half of the Sky’s game on Sunday against the Las Vegas Aces after her criticisms were published earlier this week by the Chicago Tribune.—
Thomas Schlachter,
CNN Money,
6 Sep. 2025
-
Mourinho’s arrival at United was a response to some of the criticisms directed at his predecessor, Louis van Gaal.—
Carl Anka,
New York Times,
5 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
About 10 minutes in, viewers can see the moment the car slams into the side of the building.—
Austin Mullen,
NBC news,
19 Aug. 2025
-
On Thursday, the Mexican American rap star dropped the video, which slams Trump supporters, with Rolling Stone.—
Tomás Mier,
Rolling Stone,
14 Aug. 2025
Verb
-
Whole food sources such as beans, bananas, avocado and eggs offer the form your child’s body absorbs and uses best.—
Jazmine A. Ortiz,
USA Today,
3 Sep. 2025
-
This article uses reporting by The Associated Press.—
Robert Birsel
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
3 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
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 9 Sep. 2025.
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