Synonyms of abuses

abuses 1 of 2

noun

plural of abuse

1

as in insults

harsh insulting language

hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insults
• criticisms
• vituperations
• invectives
• curses
• scurrilities
• fulminations
• vitriols
• epithets
• slurs
• obloquies
• blasphemies
• vilifications
• billingsgates
• reprimands
• maledictions
• imprecations
• profanities
• disparagements
• execrations
• blackguardisms
• excoriations
• expletives
• rebukes
• polemics
• swearwords
• tirades
• castigations
• chastisements
• reproofs
• aspersions
• put-downs
• revilements
• diatribes
• harangues
• belittlements
• opprobriums
• broadsides

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praises
• acclaim
• commendations
• compliments
• congratulations
• applauses
• endearments
• felicitations
• flatteries
• soft soaps
• adulations
• overpraises
• blarneys

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

• misuses
• perversions
• misapplications
• corruptions
• misusages
• misemployments
• misutilizations
• ruins
• debasements
• mismanagements
• mistreatments
• destructions
• damages
• desecrations
• ill-treatments
• prostitutions
• maltreatments
• profanations
• ill-usages

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• applications
• uses
• employments
• utilizations

abuses

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of abuse

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

• bullies
• tortures
• misuses
• oppresses
• violates
• mistreats
• injures
• hurts
• brutalizes
• persecutes
• maltreats
• outrages
• manhandles
• takes apart
• mishandles
• ill-treats
• ill-uses
• torments
• harasses
• harms
• messes over
• molests
• wrongs
• victimizes
• kicks around
• works (over)
• beats (up)
• burns
• sandbags
• roughs (up)
• messes (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fosters
• cares (for)
• nurtures
• cherishes
• babies
• favors
• indulges
• caters (to)
• spoils
• gratifies
• pampers
• humors
• coddles
• mollycoddles

2

as in attacks

to criticize harshly and usually publicly

a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attacks
• slams
• scolds
• insults
• criticizes
• blasts
• savages
• excoriates
• jumps (on)
• assails
• curses
• ties into
• vituperates
• harasses
• bashes
• lambastes
• castigates
• belabors
• sails into
• scathes
• trashes
• affronts
• reviles
• potshots
• reprimands
• harangues
• beats up on
• berates
• blasphemes
• lights into
• harries
• slurs
• slanders
• execrates
• disparages
• belittles
• profanes
• libels
• whips
• vilifies
• imprecates
• rebukes
• bad-mouths
• chastises
• fulminates
• lashes (out)
• chides
• asperses
• traduces
• blackguards
• laces (into)
• puts down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praises
• commends
• compliments
• hails
• lauds
• acclaims

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

• misuses
• perverts
• prostitutes
• misapplies
• profanes
• corrupts
• twists
• degrades
• misemploys
• desecrates
• mismanages
• debases

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• uses
• applies
• employs
• utilizes
• respects

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

• exploits
• uses
• manipulates
• leverages
• plays (on or upon)
• imposes (on or upon)
• capitalizes (on)
• cashes in (on)
• milks
• walks on
• cheats
• pimps
• trades on
• works
• mistreats
• overcharges
• jerks around
• bleeds
• commodifies
• sticks
• fleeces
• soaks
• commercializes
• skins

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abuses

Noun

In 2011, former members complained to the archdiocese in Peru's capital, Lima, about abuses by its founder, Luis Figari. — Arkansas Online, 13 Nov. 2026

At least six medical staffers from Gaza, including three prominent doctors, have died in Israeli prisons, according to rights groups that have documented abuses in custody. — Kareem Chehayeb, Los Angeles Times, 12 Nov. 2026

Not to mention the last two years of ICE abuses, excesses, detentions and deaths. — Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 12 Nov. 2026

Its investigations exposed abuses by Russian forces in Chechnya and offshore wealth linked to President Vladimir Putin’s inner circle. — Josephine Murphy, NBC news, 11 Nov. 2026

Prevost also participated in collecting signatures for the creation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC), which investigated the violence between 1980 and 2000 and human rights abuses, particularly in rural Peru. — Claudia Rebaza, CNN Money, 11 Nov. 2026

But when the abuses at Abu Ghraib were revealed in Iraq, commanders were not prosecuted under Article 93 for oppressing their military subordinates. — Aaron Glantz, Christian Science Monitor, 10 Nov. 2026

The safeguards are to ensure that military personnel deployed under the anti-gang force do not engage in abuses and civilians are protected. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

However, the institutions created to check and prevent just such abuses hold fast against these brazen king-like attempts to be immune from baldly unlawful actions. — David Baldacci, Vanity Fair, 3 Nov. 2026

Verb

Anyone who repeatedly abuses AI tools may soon find Claude giving them the silent treatment. — James Peckham, PC Magazine, 9 Oct. 2026

Detectives will continue investigating these cases aggressively, and anyone who abuses their position with a child will be held accountable. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 15 Aug. 2026

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

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