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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacked
to criticize harshly and usually publicly
a demanding, difficult patient who constantly abuses the nurses and aides
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of abused
Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
This trashy horror-thriller centers on an abused boy (Max Thieriot) who grows up to wreak havoc on a suburban town and the teenager (Lawrence) who cares about him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2025
Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Over the next 15 months, Alameda County social workers received at least seven reports that the girl was being abused — warnings that repeatedly were mishandled or went unheeded, according to an investigation by the Bay Area News Group.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abused
Adjective
Its abused hydrology forms the armature of a shadow city—a new form of urban infrastructure that is unplanned and unwelcome—within a city that does not acknowledge its shadow.
—Literary Hub, 21 Nov. 2025
This trashy horror-thriller centers on an abused boy (Max Thieriot) who grows up to wreak havoc on a suburban town and the teenager (Lawrence) who cares about him.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
Three others are no longer employed by the Bureau of Prisons, including Timothy Martin, the chaplain who Darlene says abused her.
—Erik Ortiz, NBC news, 27 Mar. 2026
Over the next 15 months, Alameda County social workers received at least seven reports that the girl was being abused — warnings that repeatedly were mishandled or went unheeded, according to an investigation by the Bay Area News Group.
—Jakob Rodgers, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for abused
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abused
Verb
-
We just got bullied to the basket.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
-
And your husband should not have allowed himself to be bullied by his brother into sending a second present.—
Judith Martin,
Mercury News,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Kuwait’s Al Salmi tanker was attacked at the port connected to the United Arab Emirates city better known as a destination for influencers, Reuters and The New York Times reported.—
Michael Loria,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
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The Houthis have previously attacked commercial ships in the Red Sea to disrupt the flow of oil, gas and other commodities through the Bab el-Mandeb strait.—
Lucia I Suarez Sang,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Denver’s previous vendor, Flock Safety, misused data, and that contract was terminated.—
Michael Hancock,
Denver Post,
30 Mar. 2026
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The Ethics Committee panel cited a years-long inquiry into whether Sheila Cherfilus-McCormick misused covid pandemic money.—
Kadia Goba,
Washington Post,
27 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Other social welfare programs have safety valves to protect weak, incapacitated or disabled clients from being exploited by people in power.—
Carol Marbin Miller,
Miami Herald,
2 Apr. 2026
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Regardless of their work ethic, intellect and creativity, capital has always exploited them but never been willing to partner with them.—
Jacob Walthour,
New York Daily News,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Bundy tortured, raped and killed dozens of young women in more than half a dozen states in the 1970s.—
Amanda Lee Myers,
USA Today,
1 Apr. 2026
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Estimates suggest that as many as 1,900 Jews were abducted, tortured and murdered by the military junta during the six-year Dirty War, when many sources say 30,000 people were disappeared.—
Juan Melamed,
Sun Sentinel,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Rod Sellers and Laettner grappled for a loose ball and Sellers elbowed Laettner in the face and slammed his head to the floor.—
Dom Amore,
Hartford Courant,
29 Mar. 2026
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Several controversies have also slammed the Mag 7 in recent days.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
29 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The Constitution has been perverted in ways by administrations on both sides of the aisle to facilitate military action.—
Rebecca Noel,
Charlotte Observer,
6 Feb. 2026
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Organized sports can easily be perverted.—
Louisa Thomas,
New Yorker,
1 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Grapevine Faith then used four walks, a sacrifice bunt, and an infield single to produce three runs.—
Mike Waters,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
1 Apr. 2026
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No substitution or compensation will be given for any portion of the prize that is not used.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abused.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abused. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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