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

In the film, Morton delivers a powerful monologue about men abusing power. — Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 7 Aug. 2026

An article in the Washington Post chronicled how police officers were caught abusing surveillance technology to stalk ex-wives and, in at least one case, an actress a police officer wanted to meet. — Reed Albergotti, semafor.com, 5 Aug. 2026

Miller has vehemently denied physically abusing his ex-wife and daughter and sued Emily Moreno for defamation. — Sara Dorn, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2026

Miller has denied the allegations and accused his ex-wife of defaming him and abusing their daughter herself. — Fin Daniel Gómez, CBS News, 4 Aug. 2026

Both Buttigiegs were kept from seeing their children for about a day in June after an anonymous tipster claimed Pete Buttigieg had admitted to abusing other children several years ago. — Dave Goldiner, New York Daily News, 3 Aug. 2026

Because this particular agency is now suspected of abusing its law-enforcement authority, other agencies with police powers could face questions as well. — Orlando Sentinel Editorial Board, The Orlando Sentinel, 3 Aug. 2026

Medicaid insurers warned Kentucky was one of the only states that allowed this service to be billed for separately, and providers were abusing it. — Alex Acquisto, ProPublica, 30 July 2026

Earlier this month, two other former detainees filed a separate lawsuit accusing Perales of grooming and abusing them as boys. — Nate Gartrell, Mercury News, 27 July 2026