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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abuses
Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Duaa Eldeib, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 8 May 2026
Immigration advocates say that oversight is particularly needed to prevent abuses and deaths.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 7 May 2026
Our top priority must be stopping the chaos that’s hurting working families — from reining in ICE’s abuses and restoring the rule of law, to delivering real relief from rising costs.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Particularly in authoritarian or nondemocratic nation-states, journalists can be jailed or harassed for doing their job of reporting on abuses of power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
This frustrating bureaucratic situation has been part of California’s landscape for 50-plus years and there’s been no hope to rein in the abuses, but the tide seems to be turning following a variety of court cases and legislative efforts to limit the commission’s powers.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The ex-staffer is accusing Jenner, 28, of various abuses during her employment, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to pay wages and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026
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
As a child, Heathcliff’s main tormenter is Cathy’s brother, Hindley, who physically abuses Heathcliff and forces him to work in the stables as a servant.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Noun
While the Tribune’s coverage was certainly powerful, we are reminded how those words also describe Chicagoans’ willingness to stand up to the many abuses inflicted on the city by this administration.
—Chicago Tribune, 9 May 2026
This story was originally published by ProPublica, a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Duaa Eldeib, CNN Money, 8 May 2026
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Mark Olalde, ProPublica, 8 May 2026
Immigration advocates say that oversight is particularly needed to prevent abuses and deaths.
—Ximena Bustillo, NPR, 7 May 2026
Our top priority must be stopping the chaos that’s hurting working families — from reining in ICE’s abuses and restoring the rule of law, to delivering real relief from rising costs.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 May 2026
Particularly in authoritarian or nondemocratic nation-states, journalists can be jailed or harassed for doing their job of reporting on abuses of power.
—Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 May 2026
This frustrating bureaucratic situation has been part of California’s landscape for 50-plus years and there’s been no hope to rein in the abuses, but the tide seems to be turning following a variety of court cases and legislative efforts to limit the commission’s powers.
—Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 1 May 2026
The ex-staffer is accusing Jenner, 28, of various abuses during her employment, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to pay wages and intentional infliction of emotional distress.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 1 May 2026
Verb
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
As a child, Heathcliff’s main tormenter is Cathy’s brother, Hindley, who physically abuses Heathcliff and forces him to work in the stables as a servant.
—Becky Little, Time, 13 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
-
The president has spent a decade calling his rivals communists and traitors, among other hyperbolic insults.—
Jonathan Chait,
The Atlantic,
28 Apr. 2026
-
According to Politico, the conversation was nothing but a tirade of insults.—
Tom Jurkowsky,
Baltimore Sun,
25 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
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
-
There are state laws concerning specific misuses of AI but some legislators are attempting to put broader guardrails in place.—
KATHERINE LIN,
ABC News,
20 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
-
Hantavirus is a rare but deadly disease that attacks the lungs and is typically contracted by humans through inhalation of particles contaminated with the urine, feces or saliva of a wild rodent.—
Karen Garcia,
Los Angeles Times,
7 May 2026
-
Sebastian Gorka, the senior director for counterterrorism at the National Security Council, said an immediate example would be for other countries to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, where Iran attacks commercial shipping.—
Bart Jansen,
USA Today,
6 May 2026
Verb
-
Lockwood exploits that conundrum, and even takes part in it.—
Joshua Minsoo Kim,
Pitchfork,
28 Apr. 2026
-
If anything looks off, a professional inspection is a smart investment — far cheaper than an emergency roof repair after a storm exploits an existing weak spot.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Miami Herald,
16 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And Rubio’s diplomacy with the pope could fade, should Trump take to Truth Social later this week with more criticisms.—
Shelby Talcott,
semafor.com,
8 May 2026
-
Gunty defended his company in a 90-minute interview with USA TODAY, dismissing many criticisms as coming from a vocal minority of customers.—
Kenny Jacoby,
USA Today,
7 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
-
Now, however, the team behind the new research believes the events are caused when a compact stellar remnant, like a black hole or a neutron star, slams into the universe's hottest class of star, massive stellar bodies called Wolf-Rayet stars.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
8 May 2026
-
In other words, automatic registration slams the courthouse door on women, but not on men, because registration is its own injury.—
Wendy Murphy,
Boston Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
