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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of abusive
The family also has to figure out how to protect themselves from Gil, Georgia’s abusive ex-husband and Austin’s dad.
—
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 June 2025
One study found that ninety-two per cent of abusive posts against the country’s leading politicians were directed at Ardern, and that this abuse increased in the last half of 2022.
—Rachel Morris, New Yorker, 5 June 2025
While the constitutional rights are suspended, the expansion into crimes unrelated to gangs is legal, but abusive, lawyers say.
—Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
Some browsers for Android have blocked the abusive JavaScript in trackers.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Alejandra Gularte, Vulture, 6 June 2025
One study found that ninety-two per cent of abusive posts against the country’s leading politicians were directed at Ardern, and that this abuse increased in the last half of 2022.
—Rachel Morris, New Yorker, 5 June 2025
While the constitutional rights are suspended, the expansion into crimes unrelated to gangs is legal, but abusive, lawyers say.
—Arkansas Online, 3 June 2025
Some browsers for Android have blocked the abusive JavaScript in trackers.
—Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 3 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusive
Adjective
-
The state legislature just passed the most insulting budget and laws this state has ever seen.—
Michelle Jefferson,
Baltimore Sun,
4 June 2025
-
Despite the decision falling in line with White House policy, Rep. Nancy Pelosi – whose San Francisco district includes the Castro – said erasing Milk from the military is particularly insulting.—
Andy Rose,
CNN Money,
4 June 2025
Adjective
-
Like Chelsea and City, PSG have been successful (dominant, in fact) domestically, teams stuffed with outrageous talent, led by some of the great coaches of the era, filling their trophy cabinets accordingly.—
Nick Miller,
New York Times,
28 May 2025
-
Nobody was outrageous or acting out or anything like that.—
David Chiu,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Adjective
-
Venis’s obscene wealth justifies an unbridled narcissism that reflects our worst fears of tech moguls.—
Andrew Wallenstein,
Variety,
28 May 2025
-
In December 2014, a jury convicted Magnotta of first-degree murder, committing an indignity to a human body, publishing obscene material and mailing obscene and indecent material.—
Jessica Sager,
People.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
-
But in a ceaseless offensive onslaught in the opening two innings on Saturday, things seemed to suddenly, profoundly and perhaps permanently change.—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
1 June 2025
-
That in itself is a valuable tool for a defenseman: being able to skate the puck into the neutral zone and then make a clean first pass to get the offensive process started.—
Max Bultman,
New York Times,
1 June 2025
Adjective
-
This is the threat potential given commonalities despite seemingly different developers, and those links to malicious domains.—
Zak Doffman,
Forbes.com,
4 June 2025
-
Mandiant found ads for over 30 such malicious websites; most were posted on Facebook but a handful of them appeared on LinkedIn.—
Jibin Joseph,
PC Magazine,
3 June 2025
Adjective
-
On Wednesday, the President faced a barrage of ominous developments that might have fazed another leader—a worrisome jobs report, losses in federal court related to four of his signature policies, an increasingly vituperative public breakup with Elon Musk.—
Susan B. Glasser,
New Yorker,
5 June 2025
-
Even before Trump took office, many scientists were reluctant to engage with the topic, for fear of being drawn into what has been a very public and vituperative debate.—
Daniel Engber,
The Atlantic,
20 May 2025
Adjective
-
The good people of Lancaster County were innocent of the charges thrown at them by raving Southerners and scurrilous Democrats.—
Matthew Karp,
Harpers Magazine,
29 Apr. 2025
-
Pace David Axelrod’s insinuation, there is nothing untoward or scurrilous about the citizenry asking who knew what — and when.—
The Editors,
National Review,
19 May 2025
Adjective
-
Between the time the former Marine Soto was indicted in 2018 and sentenced in 2020, then-President Donald Trump offered up vitriolic invective to Mexican officials.—
Sean Campbell,
The Conversation,
23 May 2025
-
Decades later, almost identical invective pours from the mouth of Scott Rudin, infuriated after a manuscript goes to a competitor.—
Alexandra Jacobs,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusive. Accessed 13 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share