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
Years after leaving an abusive relationship, Shanda Roberts is on a mission to offer other domestic violence victims hope and transformation.
—
Adrienne Farr, Parents, 30 Jan. 2026
Cal’s mother, Grace, is estranged from the family, having left her terrifyingly pious and physically abusive husband, as well as her own mother, who appears complicit in her son-in-law’s behavior.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
One that was made on his own terms, foregrounding Magellan’s potentially abusive past behavior and mistreatment of natives everywhere.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
This has become a flagrantly abusive practice.
—Kate Callen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Adrienne Farr, Parents, 30 Jan. 2026
Cal’s mother, Grace, is estranged from the family, having left her terrifyingly pious and physically abusive husband, as well as her own mother, who appears complicit in her son-in-law’s behavior.
—Los Angeles Times, 30 Jan. 2026
One that was made on his own terms, foregrounding Magellan’s potentially abusive past behavior and mistreatment of natives everywhere.
—Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 30 Jan. 2026
This has become a flagrantly abusive practice.
—Kate Callen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abusive
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusive
Adjective
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Yet a much more reputable but equally insulting theory about Easter Island has remained influential, even dominant, Pitts argues.—
Margaret Talbot,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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Those were found to be both abusive and insulting, and included a reference to colour or race.—
Philip Buckingham,
New York Times,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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One line in that exchange, about his life being outrageous and me not being able to tell anyone, is being interpreted as awareness of wrongdoing.—
Rick Porter,
HollywoodReporter,
3 Feb. 2026
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Can’t have outrageous outcomes every year.—
Law Murray,
New York Times,
2 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Weiner pled guilty to transferring obscene material to a minor in 2017 and spent 15 months in federal prison for the crime.—
Martha Ross,
Mercury News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Texas Tech’s student section directed an obscene chant at Kansas’ Darryn Peterson as the freshman guard prepared to shoot a free throw late in the first half of the Jayhawks’ 64-61 victory over the Red Raiders on Monday night at United Supermarkets Arena in Lubbock, Texas.—
Gary Bedore,
Kansas City Star,
4 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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But, in private, Koren could be aggressive and vituperative—a competitive colleague who sought to destroy the reputations and careers of those who crossed him.—
Ben Taub,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
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Bal and Chi-Fou-Mi Productions, while almost certainly proceeding without Israeli institutional support, given the vituperative reactions his recent films have provoked — and, by his own admission, have been designed to provoke.—
Ben Croll,
Variety,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
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The Russian general was one of several GRU officials sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for wide-ranging malicious cyber activity directed at undermining US democratic processes.—
Anna Chernova,
CNN Money,
6 Feb. 2026
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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,
5 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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The Las Vegas Raiders are working toward finalizing an agreement to make Seattle Seahawks offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak their head coach, a person with knowledge of the discussions said Sunday.—
MARK ANDERSON,
Arkansas Online,
2 Feb. 2026
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The sophomore was the Bruins’ best offensive player on Saturday, but couldn’t escape the blame.—
Aaron Heisen,
Daily News,
1 Feb. 2026
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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In the live chat of viewers following along, the commentary ranged from appreciative to vitriolic.—
Dan Adler,
Vanity Fair,
2 Feb. 2026
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Advertisement Indeed, few of today’s comments about Washington and slavery are more vitriolic than the criticisms levied by his nineteenth-century critics.—
John Garrison Marks,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abusive.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusive. Accessed 7 Feb. 2026.
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