abuse 1 of 2

abuse

2 of 2

verb

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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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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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

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 abuse
Noun
As well as the criminal case, Combs is accused in more than 25 other cases of assault, abuse, rape and more, with even more allegations and filings coming in by the week. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025 The children’s 20-year-old mother also lives at the apartment in Inwood, but is not believed to have been involved in the abuse. Brian Niemietz, New York Daily News, 13 Mar. 2025
Verb
As part of her 10-page plea agreement, Franke admitted to abusing her two youngest children. Nicole Acosta, People.com, 28 Feb. 2025 The club came under fire for hiring Abel, who left his job as Oregon’s head coach last fall, months after The Oregonian reported more than a dozen Ducks players had alleged Abel verbally abused them. Michael Nowels, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for abuse
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuse
Noun
  • The previous time Lilian had seen Imelda, who was sitting next to her in London, was ten years earlier, when her children were alive, but with some people mindless small talk would be an insult.
    Yiyun Li, The New Yorker, 9 Mar. 2025
  • That’s because Trump’s approach isn’t just an insult to Zelensky but to Ukraine itself and its institution of national leadership.
    Illia Ponomarenko, TIME, 6 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Making the Connected Cameras feature widely available without the need for third-party apps will only make these forms of misuse.
    Paul Monckton, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Behavior changes: Substance misuse, overeating or undereating, nicotine use, excessive social media use, and gaming are common signs of stress.
    Ashley Olivine, Ph.D., MPH, Verywell Health, 4 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • While being black or white may not be inherent to Snape’s character, Potter fans note that this will set up situations like James Potter bullying a young black kid in the ‘70s which are certainly not good optics and totally change the dynamics of the James/Lily/Snape storyline.
    Paul Tassi, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025
  • The claims range from a prosecutor addressing an attorney by her first name and interfering with witnesses during depositions, to allegations that prosecutors withheld evidence, bullied a witness and engaged in selective prosecution of a mother whose son was shot and killed by police.
    Brittany Wallman, Miami Herald, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • When Jensen then decides to go long, Collins and Pinnock move towards the near post and Wissa adjusts his position to be able to attack the second ball.
    Mark Carey, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025
  • There’s good reason why security experts, and analysts such as myself, recommend using a password manager as hackers continue to attack the integrity of your login credentials across accounts.
    Davey Winder, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Very quickly, Nate learns to use his affliction to his advantage via such methods as grabbing a blazing hot frying pan and pummeling his stunned opponent with it during a kitchen fight.
    Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Not unlike the human snowbirds, hundreds of actual birds use Port Aransas and neighboring Mustang Island as a popular resting place in their seasonal migratory patterns through the Central Flyway.
    Mariah Tyler, Travel + Leisure, 8 Mar. 2025
Noun
  • Despite his criticism over the cost of her preparation or the size of her support team, Wu did well in standing up for the city, Kraft said.
    Matthew Medsger, Boston Herald, 10 Mar. 2025
  • Prominent pro-Israel voices, as well as critics of Israel, defended the movie — or at least called on their allies to tone down the criticism.
    Ben Sales, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • One of Manson's followers, Bobby Beausoleil, was found guilty of torturing and murdering the man who introduced Manson to Wilson, Gary Hinman.
    William Lambers, Newsweek, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Between January and June 2023, the couple abused and tortured their two children within the Muscogee (Creek) Nation Reservation, according to prosecutors.
    Jennifer Rodriguez, Kansas City Star, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Michelle Obama playfully scolded her husband, Barack Obama, on her new podcast with her brother, Craig Robinson.
    Faisal Kutty, Newsweek, 12 Mar. 2025
  • According to Smith, James, who approached him in the third quarter during a timeout, scolded him for his commentary regarding his son and teammate, Bronny James.
    Preezy Brown, VIBE.com, 12 Mar. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Abuse.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuse. Accessed 19 Mar. 2025.

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