Synonyms of abusing

abusing

verb

present participle of abuse

1

as in bullying

to inflict physical or emotional harm upon

if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bullying
• torturing
• violating
• mistreating
• misusing
• oppressing
• injuring
• brutalizing
• hurting
• persecuting
• manhandling
• maltreating
• harassing
• ill-treating
• mishandling
• taking apart
• molesting
• tormenting
• harming
• ill-using
• messing over
• outraging
• kicking around
• victimizing
• wronging
• working (over)
• sandbagging
• burning
• beating (up)
• roughing (up)
• messing (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• fostering
• nurturing
• caring (for)
• cherishing
• favoring
• indulging
• spoiling
• gratifying
• coddling
• humoring
• catering (to)
• pampering
• babying
• mollycoddling

2

as in attacking

to criticize harshly and usually publicly

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• attacking
• slamming
• scolding
• criticizing
• insulting
• blasting
• assailing
• savaging
• harassing
• cursing
• excoriating
• bashing
• trashing
• jumping (on)
• castigating
• scathing
• lambasting
• tying into
• vituperating
• berating
• sailing into
• belaboring
• reviling
• reprimanding
• blaspheming
• potshotting
• haranguing
• belittling
• disparaging
• slandering
• affronting
• harrying
• whipping
• beating up on
• execrating
• lighting into
• profaning
• vilifying
• libeling
• slurring
• chiding
• chastising
• imprecating
• rebuking
• traducing
• bad-mouthing
• fulminating
• aspersing
• blackguarding
• lacing (into)
• lashing (out)
• putting down

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• praising
• commending
• complimenting
• hailing
• lauding
• acclaiming

3

as in misusing

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

• misusing
• perverting
• misapplying
• prostituting
• profaning
• degrading
• corrupting
• twisting
• misemploying
• mismanaging
• desecrating
• debasing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• using
• applying
• employing
• utilizing
• respecting

4

as in exploiting

to take unfair advantage of

abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice

Synonyms & Similar Words

• exploiting
• using
• manipulating
• leveraging
• milking
• playing (on or upon)
• imposing (on or upon)
• pimping
• cheating
• walking on
• capitalizing (on)
• trading on
• mistreating
• working
• cashing in (on)
• overcharging
• bleeding
• sticking
• fleecing
• soaking
• commercializing
• skinning
• jerking around
• commodifying

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abusing

Berry’s ex-husband Olivier Martinez accused the actor of physically abusing their 12-year-old son last month. — Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

As reports of officers abusing Flock have made headlines and the company has become increasingly controversial, hundreds of cities and counties have ended or suspended their contracts with the company, or decided not to renew them. — Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026

Last week, Ross’ former girlfriend publicly accused him on social media of abusing her during their relationship. — Grethel Aguila, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Jang also accused McKinsey of emotionally abusing her mother. — ABC News, 1 Oct. 2026

In lawsuits filed last year, Chegg and PMC accused Google of abusing its monopoly power by coercing publishers into supplying content for AI Overviews for free, or risk disappearing from search results. — Emma Roth, The Verge, 1 Oct. 2026

What was originally designed to be a two-week experiment was ended after less than a week when those assigned to be guards began abusing those assigned as prisoners, among other ethical concerns. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 29 Sep. 2026

Attackers create multiple accounts, abusing free trials and consuming AI tokens without ever intending to pay for them. — Sarita Singh, Fortune, 28 Sep. 2026

But a recent uptick in both national and Chicago area police abusing Flock cameras has heightened residents’ concerns about their privacy, security and whether the technology’s public safety benefits ultimately outweigh its risks. — Claire Murphy, Chicago Tribune, 25 Sep. 2026