1
as in insult
harsh insulting language
hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misuse
incorrect or improper use
naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in to bully
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition
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2
as in to attack
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides
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3
as in to misuse
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in to use
to take unfair advantage of
abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abuse
Kimi Robinson, USA Today, 27 Mar. 2025
Washington County Attorney Eric Clarke said that the investigation found that religious extremism motivated the abuse .
—CBS News, 26 Mar. 2025
Monica Mercuri, Forbes.com, 26 Mar. 2025
Three former and current volunteer firefighters have filed a lawsuit against an ex-New Jersey police officer and fire official, accusing him of subjecting them to abuse under the guise of training exercises.
—Jessica Schladebeck, New York Daily News, 25 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for abuse
Noun
That same Jane Doe voluntarily dismissed her case in February; weeks later, Jay-Z sued Jane Doe, Buzbee and another attorney for malicious prosecution, abuse of process, civil conspiracy and defamation.
—Verb
Meanwhile, Natalia has alleged that she was abused by Kristine—a claim explored in Investigation Discovery’s three-part docuseries, which focuses on her account of what took place inside the Barnett household.
—Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuse
Noun
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Tariffs on Canadian exports and repeated insults by President Donald Trump about Canada becoming the 51st state have Canadians pushing back with a term hockey fans may be familiar with.—
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The dispute stems from last year’s feud wherein Drake and Lamar traded increasingly personal and unverified insults in a series of songs.—
Noun
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Additional motor vehicle charges include operating under suspension, unsafe backing, misuse of plates, operating an unregistered motor vehicle, and no insurance, according to the Milford Police Department.—
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Due to the emergent nature of climate change, a lot of resources are being channelled towards supporting projects and initiatives aimed at mitigating its effects, increasing the risk of misuse.—
Verb
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Once back, Jérémie can’t bear to leave, and Vincent, resentful of the intruder in his mother’s house, tries to bully him out.—
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Earlier this month, a 13-year-old girl from Northern Kentucky took her own life after years of being bullied.—
Verb
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This was a departure from Mourinho and Conte, who both moaned about investment, attacked the club culture, exited unceremoniously, and bad-mouthed them afterward.—
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By the way, it was attacked from the Pentagon and from the White House as being fake news that this was going to happen and Elon Musk denounced the leak.—
Verb
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Booker, who appeared to have nothing more than two glasses of water and notes on his lectern, skillfully used the rules to his advantage, permitting colleagues to ask questions to give himself brief moments of rest while still maintaining control of the floor.—
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When the bill was introduced in last year’s legislative session, sponsors said that the mental health of minors who excessively use social media was a main concern.—
Noun
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There have been many waves of criticism, pointing out the impossibility of carrying out the test in a precise or useful way.—
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Then came subsequent criticism about her selection for the 2024 Women’s Olympic team – especially considering Caitlin Clark’s absence – followed by her Las Vegas Aces’ loss in the 2024 WNBA Finals.—
Verb
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Reyes Barrios, who marched in protests against the Maduro regime in February and March 2024, had been tortured by government officials.—
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Maybe the two of them are held prisoner down there for a while, being tortured by Milchick (or whomever is brought in to replace him after two separate catastrophes have happened under his watch).—
Verb
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Omari Hardwick scolded an interviewer who misquoted him in a seeming attempt to stir up drama between the actor and Power producer 50 Cent.—
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On Wednesday, the couple jokingly addressed the awkward interview in which Hilaria scolded Alec for interrupting her during a red carpet moment that has since gone viral.—
Cite this Entry
“Abuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuse. Accessed 5 Apr. 2025.
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