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
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
While these murky ties remain difficult to independently verify, a number of neighboring nations and foreign powers—including Quad members—have been accused of supporting either side in a conflict in which both parties have been hit with allegations of human rights abuses.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Audrey Dutton, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Pritzker said the commission will aim to create a public record of abuses; capture their impact on families; and recommend ways to prevent further harm.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
The Antioch Police Department helped pioneer the effort in 2015, shortly before multiple scandals ripped through the agency amid claims of widespread civil rights abuses, violent arrest tactics and racist policing.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
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
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
While these murky ties remain difficult to independently verify, a number of neighboring nations and foreign powers—including Quad members—have been accused of supporting either side in a conflict in which both parties have been hit with allegations of human rights abuses.
—Tom O'Connor, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Oct. 2025
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Audrey Dutton, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2025
Pritzker said the commission will aim to create a public record of abuses; capture their impact on families; and recommend ways to prevent further harm.
—Michael Loria, USA Today, 23 Oct. 2025
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Jennifer Smith Richards, ProPublica, 22 Oct. 2025
The Antioch Police Department helped pioneer the effort in 2015, shortly before multiple scandals ripped through the agency amid claims of widespread civil rights abuses, violent arrest tactics and racist policing.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 16 Oct. 2025
Verb
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
-
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
-
The jabs and insults of earlier Presidents, though, however rough, stayed within the bounds of democratic discourse, the basic rule being that the other side also gets to make its case.—
Adam Gopnik,
New Yorker,
25 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
-
But there are many other threats out there, like the evil wizard Vilgefortz (Mahesh Jadu) who attacks Yennefer’s forces in the climactic Battle of Montecalvo.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
31 Oct. 2025
-
Some people worry that flu shots increase the risk of Guillain-Barre syndrome, a serious but rare disorder in which the immune system attacks nerve cells, causing muscle weakness and sometimes paralysis.—
Liz Szabo,
NBC news,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
At its core, the technology exploits salinity gradients between water sources.—
Tejasri Gururaj,
Interesting Engineering,
24 Oct. 2025
-
The film follows Caiden (Smith), a hapless fitness enthusiast who moves to Los Angeles dreaming of becoming a trainer, only to be diverted by Randy (Krumholtz), an opportunistic Hollywood Boulevard grifter who exploits his likeness to the world’s most famous superhero.—
Naman Ramachandran,
Variety,
17 Oct. 2025
Noun
-
What investigators initially left out Despite criticisms that IndyStar reported previously from accusers, the law firm says no findings were left out of the final report.—
Ryan Murphy,
IndyStar,
24 Oct. 2025
-
His opponents have slammed him over his previous criticisms of the New York Police Department, but Mamdani has since emphasized his desire to work with the department.—
Chantelle Lee,
Time,
24 Oct. 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
-
One post on the platform included a screenshot of a season 4 scene where Will uses a conversation about Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to reveal his true feelings for Mike.—
Angel Saunders,
PEOPLE,
28 Oct. 2025
-
The brand uses Italian cellulose acetate to create its chic adornments, selected for its durability and eco-credentials.—
Ellie Davis,
Vogue,
28 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
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