as in maltreated
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1
as in bullied
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 attacked
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides
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3
as in misused
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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4
as in exploited
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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Examples of abused in a Sentence
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Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
Her positioning as the Joker’s adoring girlfriend first and foremost harkens back to the character’s introduction as an abused love interest and henchwoman in Batman: The Animated Series.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 23 July 2024
The abused cell releases heat and flammable chemicals, affecting other cells.
—Joann Muller, Axios, 8 Aug. 2024
Listen to this article An emaciated, abused dog soaked in urine was saved from a Queens apartment where her cruel owner kept her tied up with a 6-inch chain, prosecutors said Tuesday.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abused 
Adjective
Graphic contemporary news footage shows Mussolini’s ignominious end, when his abused corpse was publicly flayed by anyone who wanted to take a whack at it.
—Stephanie Bunbury, Deadline, 5 Sep. 2024
Her positioning as the Joker’s adoring girlfriend first and foremost harkens back to the character’s introduction as an abused love interest and henchwoman in Batman: The Animated Series.
—Abby Monteil, Them, 23 July 2024
The abused cell releases heat and flammable chemicals, affecting other cells.
—Joann Muller, Axios, 8 Aug. 2024
Listen to this article An emaciated, abused dog soaked in urine was saved from a Queens apartment where her cruel owner kept her tied up with a 6-inch chain, prosecutors said Tuesday.
—Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 2 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for abused
Thesaurus Entries Near abused
Cite this Entry
“Abused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abused. Accessed 10 Nov. 2024.
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