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
Now that Democrats have control and have adopted a similar playbook, Republicans accuse them of abusing their power.
—
Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
Chloe Johnson, 25, was caught on camera abusing several infants at a day care in Blaine, Minnesota.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
In recent weeks, Lewandowski and Noem have been accused of abusing DHS resources and generally creating chaos at the department.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
The banner was displayed in the wake of Madrid forward Vinicius Junior accusing Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during the first leg.
—Sam Joseph, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
But now Spears, 44, can’t say that the tabloids are falsely accusing her of abusing substances or of being a danger to herself and others.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Such a role would reinforce taxpayer confidence, stabilize reckless spending and hold people accountable for abusing the system.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
Lisseth says her brother-in-law was verbally abusing her sister, who was 20 years his junior.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
Harding said the Democrats are abusing the process.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Arkansas Online, 10 Mar. 2026
Chloe Johnson, 25, was caught on camera abusing several infants at a day care in Blaine, Minnesota.
—Wcco Staff, CBS News, 8 Mar. 2026
In recent weeks, Lewandowski and Noem have been accused of abusing DHS resources and generally creating chaos at the department.
—Emily Zemler, Rolling Stone, 6 Mar. 2026
The banner was displayed in the wake of Madrid forward Vinicius Junior accusing Benfica’s Gianluca Prestianni of racially abusing him during the first leg.
—Sam Joseph, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026
But now Spears, 44, can’t say that the tabloids are falsely accusing her of abusing substances or of being a danger to herself and others.
—Martha Ross, Mercury News, 5 Mar. 2026
Such a role would reinforce taxpayer confidence, stabilize reckless spending and hold people accountable for abusing the system.
—Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 4 Mar. 2026
Lisseth says her brother-in-law was verbally abusing her sister, who was 20 years his junior.
—Gabrielle Emanuel, NPR, 4 Mar. 2026
Harding said the Democrats are abusing the process.
—Mark Pazniokas, Hartford Courant, 24 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusing
Verb
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Johnson said the freshman was a mismatch nightmare, bullying smaller guards and utilizing his quickness against larger forwards.—
Caleb Yum,
Austin American Statesman,
5 Mar. 2026
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Safety for transportation of our children; safety from bullying, mental health issues; and safety from vaping, drug and alcohol use on school property.—
Alec Johnson,
jsonline.com,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The remark, which spread quickly across news and social media, implied that Israel pushed the US into attacking.—
Tal Shalev,
CNN Money,
6 Mar. 2026
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On Thursday, Azerbaijan accused Iran of attacking it with drones — though Tehran denied that.—
Jon Gambrell,
Twin Cities,
5 Mar. 2026
Verb
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What are the consequences for misusing the HOV lane?—
Ella Gonzales,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Not to speak of misusing our soldiers and their consciences.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In this way, prediction markets are the perfect technology for a low-trust society, simultaneously exploiting and reifying an environment in which believing the motives behind any person or action becomes harder.—
Charlie Warzel,
The Atlantic,
5 Mar. 2026
-
Cohen was accused of exploiting his advisory and fiduciary relationships with these players.—
Michael McCann,
Sportico.com,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Draughan was arraigned Thursday on two counts of second-degree killing/torturing animals, one count of felony firearms, one count of cruelty to an animal resulting in the animal's death, and one count of abandoning animals.—
Joseph Buczek,
CBS News,
5 Mar. 2026
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Ida, meanwhile, is a crime society floozy in 1930s Great Depression Chicago, an escort to a coterie of goombahs who take to mentally torturing her over dinner and drinks in a speakeasy.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
4 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Drivers are sending last-minute emails, riding each other’s bumpers, going too fast or too slow, slamming on their brakes, not letting each other merge.—
Rose Evans
Updated March 3,
Idaho Statesman,
3 Mar. 2026
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Then, just as abruptly, the plane lurched up, slamming everyone back to the ground.—
Burkhard Bilger,
New Yorker,
2 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When Carolyn finally walked through the doors at the back of the chapel and down the aisle, Reverend O’Byrne had to lead the pair through their vows using a flashlight.—
Radhika Seth,
Vogue,
7 Mar. 2026
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This results page was generated automatically using information from TinBu and a template written and reviewed by a South Dakota editor.—
Shelly Conlon,
Sioux Falls Argus Leader,
7 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Yuen and Wai have pleaded not guilty to violating the National Security Act by assisting a foreign intelligence service between December 2023 and May 2024 and committing foreign interference by trying to force their way into a home.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 Mar. 2026
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That same month, the Wyandotte County District Attorney’s Office charged him with one count of violating the Kansas Offender Registration Act.—
Robert A. Cronkleton
March 4,
Kansas City Star,
4 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusing. Accessed 10 Mar. 2026.
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