1
as in bullying
to inflict physical or emotional harm upon
if you abuse your pet, he will always have an ugly disposition
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in attacking
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 misusing
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in exploiting
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
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Recent Examples of abusing
Investigators said, following the report, the child's mother checked surveillance video from inside the home and saw the night nurse, Cindy Dresser, physically abusing the child.
—
Stephanie Ballesteros, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced Matvei Rumiantsev, a 23-year-old Russian national, to two years in prison after being found guilty of assault for abusing his on-and-off girlfriend.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the group prioritized profit over safety, providing the drug despite clear warning signs that Perry was abusing the dissociative anesthetic.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
Danny Hoyt, 57, worked as a teacher for West Des Moines Community Schools until 2025, when he was suspended and then charged with kidnapping and abusing the then-13-year-old girl.
—William Morris, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Victims who depend on the people abusing them face extraordinary pressure to minimize what is happening.
—Anne P. Deprince, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
That means, to avoid abusing the tires, drivers will need to manage their equipment as much as possible.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
In the report, two women alleged that Chavez began grooming and abusing them during his time as UFW president.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
Josh Duggar was accused of abusing underage girls, including four of his sisters.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Stephanie Ballesteros, CBS News, 30 Mar. 2026
Judge Joel Bennathan sentenced Matvei Rumiantsev, a 23-year-old Russian national, to two years in prison after being found guilty of assault for abusing his on-and-off girlfriend.
—Timothy Nerozzi, The Washington Examiner, 27 Mar. 2026
Prosecutors said the group prioritized profit over safety, providing the drug despite clear warning signs that Perry was abusing the dissociative anesthetic.
—Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 26 Mar. 2026
Danny Hoyt, 57, worked as a teacher for West Des Moines Community Schools until 2025, when he was suspended and then charged with kidnapping and abusing the then-13-year-old girl.
—William Morris, Des Moines Register, 24 Mar. 2026
Victims who depend on the people abusing them face extraordinary pressure to minimize what is happening.
—Anne P. Deprince, The Conversation, 23 Mar. 2026
That means, to avoid abusing the tires, drivers will need to manage their equipment as much as possible.
—Jordan Bianchi, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2026
In the report, two women alleged that Chavez began grooming and abusing them during his time as UFW president.
—Brittney Melton, NPR, 19 Mar. 2026
Josh Duggar was accused of abusing underage girls, including four of his sisters.
—Armando Tinoco, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for abusing
Verb
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Online platforms are generally not legally responsible for the content that their users post; Meta, for example, would not be liable for bullying comments or imagery for self-harm posted onto Facebook.—
Kaitlyn Tiffany,
The Atlantic,
25 Mar. 2026
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Lendeborg had a highlight-reel dunk by bullying his way through two defenders and finishing his transition drive with a dunk to put Michigan up 66-57.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The adjective ‘brave’ should never be used in reference to a person attacking a dead person.—
Tracy Wright,
FOXNews.com,
2 Apr. 2026
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Trump reacted by attacking Springsteen over his physical appearance and urging his MAGA fanbase to boycott the tour.—
Zack Sharf,
Variety,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm sues his parents for millions, accusing them of misusing his money.—
Andrew Greif,
NBC news,
27 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Robert Rodriguez, a fellow Democrat, warned that having no regulations would hurt Coloradans and leave no recourse for misusing it.—
Nick Coltrain,
Denver Post,
18 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The film also showed attacks by conservative TV commentator Sean Hannity, who accused parents of exploiting girls, sparking a right-wing media frenzy and even threats to the organization.—
Kamren Curiel,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
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The regime sought to eliminate my father by exploiting divisions that emerged within MOSOP in 1993.—
Noo Saro-Wiwa,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Two recent cases of parents in Round Lake Beach and Fox Lake charged with several counts each of torturing and abusing their children — in one case allegedly causing a son’s death — point to the need for some sort of parental licensing.—
Charles Selle,
Chicago Tribune,
18 Mar. 2026
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The Ayatollah ruled as a brutal dictator, killing and torturing his own people, imposing harsh restrictions on basic freedoms, and put the lives of our troops and global allies constantly at risk.—
Derek Tran,
Oc Register,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The wing struck the roof of a home before slamming into an exterior wall of a second home next door.—
Stephen Sorace,
FOXNews.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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The pair have been in physical altercations in the past, including Manning's 2012 arrest for allegedly punching, scratching, kicking and choking Hartman – whom media outlets have referred to as Manning's former make-up artist and assistant – and slamming her head against the floor and wall.—
Taijuan Moorman,
USA Today,
31 Mar. 2026
Verb
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User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
28 Mar. 2026
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Ticket holders who travel to matches using public transportation (Tri-Rail, Metrorail, Metrobus, Trolley, or Broward County Transit) will receive a $10 food and beverage credit upon arrival at Nu Stadium.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
28 Mar. 2026
Verb
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In their filing in Sacramento Superior Court, the residents accuse city officials of violating Measure O, which mandates that interim shelters sit more than 500 feet away from bodies of water or streams.—
Ishani Desai,
Sacbee.com,
1 Apr. 2026
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Sculptor and illustrator Jacques Tilly, who designed the aforementioned float, has been reported to the police for disseminating hate speech and violating the Criminal Code, which prohibits the use of Nazi imagery for purposes not expressly linked to art, scholarship, teaching, or reporting.—
Tim Brinkhof,
JSTOR Daily,
1 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Abusing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/abusing. Accessed 4 Apr. 2026.
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