as in insulting
marked by harsh insulting language
never one to believe that honorable people can disagree honorably, he invariably launches abusive attacks against anyone who dares to challenge him
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abusive
The Brit List script, which treads the line between black comedy and drama, is set in the early 20th Century Hungary where a village knitting club takes it upon themselves to poison their abusive husbands with arsenic.
—
Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Sarowitz, [publicist Melissa] Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2025
Or, like teenager Kashmira, to escape the sight of her abusive and absentee father’s genetics in the mirror every morning.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Though they were still subjected to abusive practices, tenants usually knew their landlords and saw them often, and rents were much more stable.
—Cassie Powell, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Diana Lodderhose, Deadline, 6 Nov. 2025
Sarowitz, [publicist Melissa] Nathan, and the other Wayfarer Parties who perpetrated this abusive litigation.
—Shania Russell, Entertainment Weekly, 3 Nov. 2025
Or, like teenager Kashmira, to escape the sight of her abusive and absentee father’s genetics in the mirror every morning.
—Literary Hub, 3 Nov. 2025
Though they were still subjected to abusive practices, tenants usually knew their landlords and saw them often, and rents were much more stable.
—Cassie Powell, The Conversation, 3 Nov. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusive
Adjective
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Altman seems to find the question insulting.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
10 Nov. 2025
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To educate all of them in similar ways is insulting, and silly.—
Josh Hammer,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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We were inspired by their outrageous VHS cover art that promised epic tales of heroic barbarians rescuing buxom babes from giant monsters.—
Bear McCreary,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Nov. 2025
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Be outrageous, ridicule the fraidy-cats, rejoice in all the oddities that freedom can produce.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
3 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Banners containing commercial, political or obscene material, or that block guest views.—
Ed Masley,
AZCentral.com,
4 Nov. 2025
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Just another week in the world of Ball, who was fined $35,000 by the NBA on Monday for making an obscene gesture in the fourth quarter of the Hornets’ 144-117 loss to Miami.—
Roderick Boone,
Charlotte Observer,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In the years intervening, the poem has remained a lodestar, a contravening presence when, in present day America’s vituperative political landscape, the humanities disciplines and higher education itself has been forced to invoke and defend its own authority.—
Elaine L. Wang
September 11,
Literary Hub,
11 Sep. 2025
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Even the company’s most vituperative detractors acknowledge its engineering genius and applaud its success in driving down launch expenses (unlike many defense contractors, SpaceX largely eats the cost of its failures).—
Franklin Foer,
The Atlantic,
28 July 2025
Adjective
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The best way to safeguard yourself from malicious links that install malware, potentially accessing your private information, is to have strong antivirus software installed on all your devices.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
8 Nov. 2025
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For many of Modi’s supporters, Mamdani’s rhetoric is seen as a malicious attack on the country’s majority religion.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
7 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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If Alonso leaves, replacing his offensive production will be another focal point.—
Aaliyan Mohammed,
MSNBC Newsweek,
6 Nov. 2025
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The show leans into this offensive, problematic plot device without any self-awareness.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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In the Hulu version of the story, Clarke plays Alex, a middle-aged lawyer stealing money from his clients and funneling it into an opioid addiction and, the series implies, other scurrilous crimes.—
Kelly Lawler,
USA Today,
13 Oct. 2025
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The justices who renounced that lie in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Center exposed themselves to scurrilous criticisms and even threats to their safety.—
The Editors,
National Review,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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Whether ecstatic or vitriolic, the attention the book garnered was unprecedented.—
Via Scribner,
Literary Hub,
7 Oct. 2025
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One of the most viral and vitriolic critiques came from Crissle West, co-host of the popular pop-culture podcast The Read.—
Meagan Jordan,
Rolling Stone,
3 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusive. Accessed 14 Nov. 2025.
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