1
as in insults
harsh insulting language
hometown fans hurled abuse at the visiting team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in misuses
incorrect or improper use
naturally the furniture had received a lot of abuse from the 10 kids in the family
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in bullies
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 attacks
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 perverts
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 exploits
to take unfair advantage of
abused his parents' trust, pilfering small amounts from them that he hoped they wouldn't notice
Synonyms & Similar Words
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 abuses
Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
But certain sectors have been increasingly reliant on migrant workers and in some industries – like fishing – there have been past reports of labor abuses.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025
Critics say the administration's hard-line stance is aggressive and have accused the agency of racial profiling, ignoring due process rights, and of human rights abuses.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
The regime has been accused of discrimination, human rights abuses, and suppression of dissenters, which has led to hundreds of thousands of Iranians fleeing since 1979.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
The travelogue portion of Walking the Bypass is sutured, sometimes maladroitly, to a history of the Crown’s abuses of Indigenous peoples.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The Outlaw Ocean Project is an investigative journalism nonprofit exposing environmental and human rights abuses on the high seas.
—Elisabeth Brier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The agency, little-known outside the government, was created by Congress as part of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 to ensure that federal employees are protected against abuses by agency management.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Noun
The South Korean government is launching its own investigation into potential human rights abuses and its president is questioning whether future investments should proceed.
—Patricia Lopez, Mercury News, 26 Sep. 2025
But certain sectors have been increasingly reliant on migrant workers and in some industries – like fishing – there have been past reports of labor abuses.
—Wayne Chang, CNN Money, 25 Sep. 2025
ProPublica is a nonprofit newsroom that investigates abuses of power.
—Jeremy Kohler, ProPublica, 24 Sep. 2025
Critics say the administration's hard-line stance is aggressive and have accused the agency of racial profiling, ignoring due process rights, and of human rights abuses.
—Billal Rahman, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Sep. 2025
The regime has been accused of discrimination, human rights abuses, and suppression of dissenters, which has led to hundreds of thousands of Iranians fleeing since 1979.
—Kamal Morgan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Sep. 2025
The travelogue portion of Walking the Bypass is sutured, sometimes maladroitly, to a history of the Crown’s abuses of Indigenous peoples.
—Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 19 Sep. 2025
The Outlaw Ocean Project is an investigative journalism nonprofit exposing environmental and human rights abuses on the high seas.
—Elisabeth Brier, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
The agency, little-known outside the government, was created by Congress as part of the Civil Service Reform Act of 1978 to ensure that federal employees are protected against abuses by agency management.
—Carrie Johnson, NPR, 17 Sep. 2025
Verb
But outside of the ring, Christy hides and represses her lesbianism and winds up marrying her trainer Jim Martin (Ben Foster), who manipulates and physically abuses her.
—Edward Segarra, USA Today, 13 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abuses
Noun
-
During the speech, however, Kemp periodically deviated from building up Astra to hurling insults at several of his competitors in the launch industry.—
Eric Berger,
ArsTechnica,
25 Sep. 2025
-
Kimmel has been a frequent target, with the two trading insults.—
Dominick Mastrangelo,
The Hill,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Earlier this year, in July 2025, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the first implantable VNS device for rheumatoid arthritis, a painful autoimmune disease that attacks the joints.—
Clarissa Brincat,
Popular Science,
25 Sep. 2025
-
While Alex is reeling from his discovery, Dwayne attacks him and hauls him away.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
25 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
On Tuesday, Lipa took to her Instagram to directly shut down the Mail’s reporting and tut-tut the article’s style and voice while dismissing it as mere clickbait that exploits a tragedy.—
Kevin Dolak,
HollywoodReporter,
24 Sep. 2025
-
My Pafology, later retitled Fuck, a book that exploits nearly every Black stereotype.—
Lauren Morrow
September 9,
Literary Hub,
9 Sep. 2025
Noun
-
Although several of its commissioners, including Ferguson, have been skeptical of big tech, their criticisms have focused on companies’ regulations of speech.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
26 Sep. 2025
-
In June 2020, during the height of the Black Lives Matter movement, OSU running back Chuba Hubbard, threatened to sit out after Gundy was photographed wearing a T-shirt featuring with the logo for One America News (OAN), the far-right network then known for its criticisms of BLM.—
Daniel Libit,
Sportico.com,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Washington Post slams Kamala Harris book tour, says Dems don't 'have time to waste' on former VP.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Sep. 2025
-
The charging bear slams against the car as the door closes, swiping at the space where the man's head was moments before.—
Kelli Bender,
PEOPLE,
26 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Breast ultrasound uses sound waves to look at the breast and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) uses radio waves and magnets to make detailed images, often used for high-risk patients.—
Dr. Megha Gupta,
ABC News,
1 Oct. 2025
-
Our team uses data analysis, with data partner AccuPoint Solutions, and editorial review to compile CNBC's Financial Advisor 100 list.—
Kate Dore, CFP®, EA,Kelli Grant, CFP®,
CNBC,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The algorithm manipulates users, but primarily with the goal of keeping them on the platform and seeing more advertisements.—
David Karpf,
The Atlantic,
24 Sep. 2025
-
The patch was created by combining nanophotonics technology, which manipulates light at the nanometer scale (one-hundred-thousandth the thickness of a human hair) to read molecular properties, with microfluidics technology, which precisely controls sweat in channels thinner than a hair.—
Hannah Millington,
MSNBC Newsweek,
17 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
This diabolical, maximalist group oppresses Gazans and its existence ensures the Palestinians will not have a state.—
Zoltan Istvan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Abuses.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abuses. Accessed 1 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share