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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacking
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 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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abusing
The administration has been accused of trying to start a new war and abusing military power by foreign and domestic leaders.
—
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
In a complaint filed in 2023, Gannett and the other plaintiffs accused Google of violating federal antitrust laws by abusing its dominant position to control and profit from the technology used by publishers to buy and sell ads across the internet.
—USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2025
In 2021, Maxwell was convicted of multiple charges relating to her role assisting Jeffrey Epstein in abusing underage girls.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
In a complaint filed in 2023, Gannett and the other plaintiffs accused Google of violating federal antitrust laws by abusing its dominant position to control and profit from the technology used by publishers to buy and sell ads across the internet.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Society should stop abusing us and start being inspired by us.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Ticketmaster is trying to address the lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission with several moves intended to block scalpers from abusing the platform.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
He was reported for verbally abusing employees, said Michael Payne, table games chairman for the gaming division.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
These shameless politicians are abusing their power to take away yours.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
Hollie Silverman, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
In a complaint filed in 2023, Gannett and the other plaintiffs accused Google of violating federal antitrust laws by abusing its dominant position to control and profit from the technology used by publishers to buy and sell ads across the internet.
—USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2025
In 2021, Maxwell was convicted of multiple charges relating to her role assisting Jeffrey Epstein in abusing underage girls.
—Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 29 Oct. 2025
In a complaint filed in 2023, Gannett and the other plaintiffs accused Google of violating federal antitrust laws by abusing its dominant position to control and profit from the technology used by publishers to buy and sell ads across the internet.
—Usa Today, USA Today, 28 Oct. 2025
Society should stop abusing us and start being inspired by us.
—Will Tizard, Variety, 27 Oct. 2025
Ticketmaster is trying to address the lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission with several moves intended to block scalpers from abusing the platform.
—Bethy Squires, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2025
He was reported for verbally abusing employees, said Michael Payne, table games chairman for the gaming division.
—Noelle Phillips, Denver Post, 20 Oct. 2025
These shameless politicians are abusing their power to take away yours.
—Brittany Shepherd, ABC News, 14 Oct. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusing
Verb
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The results are similar, with each former employee’s clique now bullying Robert in protest.—
Christopher Cruz,
Rolling Stone,
30 Oct. 2025
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From social media bullying to suicide, mental health isn’t a side issue, though some people may feel that way.—
Kirsten Chuba,
HollywoodReporter,
30 Oct. 2025
Verb
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In addition, nine other suspects were arrested for allegedly attacking law enforcement officers over the summer during immigration enforcement operations in and around Los Angeles.—
Louis Casiano , Matt Finn,
FOXNews.com,
29 Oct. 2025
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In June 2023, Smith was diagnosed with osteomyelitis, a potentially rare and life-threatening bone infection that was attacking her lower vertebrae.—
Alyssa Davis,
PEOPLE,
29 Oct. 2025
Verb
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That was due to a federal jury’s 2018 conviction of the former Texas Republican congressman on fraud and conspiracy charges for misusing charitable donations to pay for personal and political expenses.—
David Mark,
The Washington Examiner,
31 Oct. 2025
-
In the 2000s, Andrew was repeatedly accused of misusing his position as a British trade envoy for his personal advantage.—
Helen Lewis,
The Atlantic,
25 Oct. 2025
Verb
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The narrative of the obscenely rich exploiting every link in the chain to amass more wealth — at the expense of shareholders, government banks and the people of India — was the old story.—
Snigdha Poonam,
The Dial,
28 Oct. 2025
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Yet even these entities will adapt, either by exploiting visa loopholes, relying more heavily on student-to-H-1B conversions, or shifting toward the L-1 visa category, which remains unaffected by the new fee.—
Billal Rahman,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Dahbia Benkired was convicted of raping, torturing and killing Lola Daviet, according the BBC, BFMTV and The New York Times.—
Liam Quinn,
PEOPLE,
27 Oct. 2025
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In another film with a less happy outcome, the woman who claims to be the amnesiac’s wife is an impostor who ends up torturing him.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Back in 1961, residents of Capitola woke up to find that hordes of black seabirds were slamming into cars, windows and people's homes and dying.—
Stephanie Sengwe,
PEOPLE,
25 Oct. 2025
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Ford said earlier that his province was spending $75 million to run ads in the United States slamming the impact of tariffs and featuring clips of Reagan.—
Shane Croucher,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Sarah Moore, executive director of the Arkansas Justice Reform Coalition, questioned the legality of using American Rescue Plan Act funds for the project.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
3 Nov. 2025
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Separately, Graffiedi is exploring immersion cooling for data centers using dielectric fluids — non-conductive liquids that remove heat through boiling.—
Chris Young,
Interesting Engineering,
3 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Court records state that on June 4, 2024, X suspended Plummer’s original account for violating its rules against violent speech.—
Wren Smetana,
AZCentral.com,
25 Oct. 2025
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Brodie, whowas found guilty of violating American sanctions on Cuba in the early 2000s, was denied pardon by former President Joe Biden in 2023.—
Melanie Hicken,
CNN Money,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusing. Accessed 5 Nov. 2025.
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