Synonyms of abusive

abusive

adjective

ə-ˈbyü-siv 

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• insulting
• outrageous
• obscene
• vituperative
• malicious
• offensive
• scurrilous
• vitriolic
• opprobrious
• invective
• truculent
• nasty
• hateful
• outraging
• dirty
• contumelious
• filthy
• vituperatory
• scurrile
• vulgar
• indecent
• offending
• contemptuous
• libelous
• crude
• gross
• slanderous
• defamatory
• spiteful
• scandalous
• foulmouthed
• foul
• disdainful
• coarse
• scornful
• malevolent
• affronting
• intemperate
• unbridled
• potty-mouthed
• unrestrained
• immoderate
• maligning
• vilifying
• traducing

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• moderate
• respectful
• civil
• temperate
• deferential
• polite
• courteous
• gracious
• judicious
• discreet
• tempered
• laudatory
• mannerly
• praiseful
• laudative
• encomiastic

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of abusive

The league's anti-hate committee was formed last year to deal with hateful and abusive online comments directed at players and the league. — S.e. Jenkins, CBS News, 19 Aug. 2026

Her hiring came after allegations of a toxic and abusive culture within the department surfaced in a 2020 lawsuit filed by Jennifer Conviser, a sport psychologist who had consulted with DePaul’s athletic department from 2005 to 2018. — Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026

And then Catherine decides for her, or maybe for herself, and shoots this abusive man in the side before fleeing off into the New York City streets. — Erin Qualey, Vulture, 17 Aug. 2026

This week as a special treat, HBO release the first five minutes of the premiere episode that looks fantastic and reveals a much younger Hal Jordan being interviewed in 1996 and John Stewart's abusive family backstory involving a gun and an apple! — Jeff Spry, Space.com, 16 Aug. 2026