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
Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Just as during the Industrial Revolution, a more just future begins with workers resisting against the abuses of the present.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 May 2026
Wang also reposted content supplied by Chinese officials, including material that rejected allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 May 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 29 May 2026
The absence of a system today becomes the absence of answers tomorrow, not just for the families but also documentation of the human rights abuses.
—Sara Huston, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
International watchdogs warn of democratic backsliding under Vucic, citing police abuses and pressure on critics, while Serbia’s bid for European Union membership faces potential funding cuts over eroding rule of law.
—Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In 2011, former members complained to the archdiocese in Peru’s capital, Lima, about abuses by its founder, Luis Figari.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Types Muckraking The term muckraking, popularized during the Progressive Era (1890s–1920s), refers to an early form of investigative reporting that focused on exposing corruption, social injustice, and abuses of power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026
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
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
Noun
Accompanying the violence, both the Naxals and the security forces – including local militia raised to combat the rebels – have been accused of horrific human rights abuses, including abductions, torture and rape.
—Dhruv Tikekar, CNN Money, 30 May 2026
Just as during the Industrial Revolution, a more just future begins with workers resisting against the abuses of the present.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 May 2026
Wang also reposted content supplied by Chinese officials, including material that rejected allegations of human rights abuses in Xinjiang.
—Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 30 May 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Annie Waldman, ProPublica, 29 May 2026
The absence of a system today becomes the absence of answers tomorrow, not just for the families but also documentation of the human rights abuses.
—Sara Huston, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026
International watchdogs warn of democratic backsliding under Vucic, citing police abuses and pressure on critics, while Serbia’s bid for European Union membership faces potential funding cuts over eroding rule of law.
—Jovana Gec, Los Angeles Times, 24 May 2026
In 2011, former members complained to the archdiocese in Peru’s capital, Lima, about abuses by its founder, Luis Figari.
—ABC News, 23 May 2026
Types Muckraking The term muckraking, popularized during the Progressive Era (1890s–1920s), refers to an early form of investigative reporting that focused on exposing corruption, social injustice, and abuses of power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 21 May 2026
Verb
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
-
Some of the insults refer to comments Talarico has made over the years.—
Danielle Kurtzleben,
NPR,
30 May 2026
-
In state offices, though men reported higher levels of threats and attacks, more women than men experienced harassment and insults.—
Caelyn Pender,
Mercury News,
29 May 2026
Noun
-
The Texas Responsible Artificial Intelligence Governance Act (TRAIGA) prohibits specific intentional misuses and establishes a 36-month regulatory sandbox.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
15 May 2026
-
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
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
-
Dennis waits until Mallory leaves to go on a bike ride, and then attacks her on the path.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
29 May 2026
-
Nadal was diagnosed with Mueller-Weiss syndrome early in his career, a rare degenerative condition that attacks the navicular bone in the foot.—
Ava Wallace,
New York Times,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
The hackers used a common tactic known as credential stuffing to access the data, which exploits weak and reused passwords.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
30 May 2026
-
The addition was a prompt injection, a form of AI attack that exploits an LLM’s inability to distinguish between legitimate user prompts and those from unauthorized, potentially malicious third parties.—
Dan Goodin,
ArsTechnica,
28 May 2026
Noun
-
One of the main criticisms lobbed at DeGette in the primary campaign so far has focused on the number of her bills that have become law.—
Elliott Wenzler,
Denver Post,
31 May 2026
-
Criticisms The calculator is part of an effort to build support for the governor’s proposal and push back against criticisms, particularly over its potential impact on local government finances.—
Milena Malaver,
Miami Herald,
30 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
-
From Bay Area poetry slams to national television, Frak has built a career around quick wit, improvisation, and sharp punchlines.—
Tylan Jennings,
CBS News,
28 May 2026
-
Justin Crawford slams into the wall for an INCREDIBLE catch!—
Kevin Acee,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
28 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 4 Jun. 2026.
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