ABUSE Synonyms: 209 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'abuse' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of abuse are billingsgate , invective , obloquy , and vituperation . While all these words mean "vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval," abuse , the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language. // scathing verbal abuse

Q: When might 'billingsgate' be a better fit than 'abuse'?

While in some cases nearly identical to abuse , billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse. // directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

Q: When would 'invective' be a good substitute for 'abuse'?

In some situations, the words invective and abuse are roughly equivalent. However, invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation. // blistering political invective

Q: When is 'obloquy' a more appropriate choice than 'abuse'?

While the synonyms obloquy and abuse are close in meaning, obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace. // subjected to obloquy and derision

Q: Where would 'vituperation' be a reasonable alternative to 'abuse'?

The words vituperation and abuse can be used in similar contexts, but vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse. // a torrent of vituperation

abuse 1 of 2

noun

ə-ˈbyüs

Definition of abuse next

as in insult

harsh insulting language hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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abuse

2 of 2

verb

ə-ˈbyüz

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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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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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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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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Synonym Chooser

How is the word abuse distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of abuse are billingsgate, invective, obloquy, and vituperation. While all these words mean "vehemently expressed condemnation or disapproval," abuse, the most general term, usually implies the anger of the speaker and stresses the harshness of the language.

scathing verbal abuse

When might billingsgate be a better fit than abuse?

While in some cases nearly identical to abuse, billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse.

directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver

When would invective be a good substitute for abuse?

In some situations, the words invective and abuse are roughly equivalent. However, invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation.

blistering political invective

When is obloquy a more appropriate choice than abuse?

While the synonyms obloquy and abuse are close in meaning, obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace.

subjected to obloquy and derision

Where would vituperation be a reasonable alternative to abuse?

The words vituperation and abuse can be used in similar contexts, but vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse.

a torrent of vituperation

Examples 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 abuse

Noun

The 20-Denier stretch ripstop outer fabric was tough enough to withstand 30-mph gusts and a season’s worth of abuse from pack straps, a climbing rack, and shouldered skis—all of which our tester employed during missions around the Front Range. —

Frederick Reimers, Outside Online, 4 Nov. 2024 Context: Recent elections have seen more abuses by watchers toward voters and poll workers, per the Brennan Center. —

April Rubin, Axios, 4 Nov. 2024

Verb

Oliver is an addict, alternately abusing alcohol, MDMA, cocaine and prescription pills. —

August Brown, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 Lwin is accused of repeatedly abusing the boy throughout the day. —

Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 8 Nov. 2024 See all Example Sentences for abuse

Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuse

Noun

There was also the larger error of anointing Harris without political competition — an insult to the democratic process that handed the nomination to a candidate who, as some of us warned at the time, was exceptionally weak.

Bret Stephens, The Mercury News, 7 Nov. 2024
But what garnered the most attention were a comedian’s insults of Puerto Rico, Trump’s violent rhetoric about a political opponent and a comment about women.

Rebecca Picciotto, CNBC, 3 Nov. 2024