abuse

¹abuse

noun \ə-ˈbyüs\

Definition of ABUSE

1

: a corrupt practice or custom

2

: improper or excessive use or treatment : misuse <drug abuse>

3

obsolete : a deceitful act : deception

4

: language that condemns or vilifies usually unjustly, intemperately, and angrily

5

: physical maltreatment

Examples of ABUSE

1. He subjected his wife to physical and emotional abuse.
2. the buying of votes and other election abuses
3. She was subjected to every term of abuse her boss could think of.
4. a torrent of verbal abuse
5. The prisoner hurled abuse at the judge.

Origin of ABUSE

Middle English, from Middle French abus, from Latin abusus, from abuti to consume, from ab- + uti to use

First Known Use: 15th century

Related to ABUSE

Synonyms: billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation

Related Words: blackguardism; blasphemy, curse, execration, imprecation, malediction, profanity; epithet, insult, put-down, slur; expletive, swearword; aspersion, bad-mouthing, belittlement, disparagement, revilement, vilification; castigation, chastisement, criticism, excoriation, opprobrium, rebuke, reprimand, reproof; broadside, diatribe, harangue, polemic, tirade

Near Antonyms: acclaim, applause, commendation, praise; compliments, congratulations, endearments, felicitations; adulation, blarney, flattery, overpraise, soft soap

see all synonyms and antonyms

[+]more[-]hide

Synonym Discussion of ABUSE

abuse, vituperation, invective, obloquy, billingsgate 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>. vituperation implies fluent and sustained abuse <a torrent of vituperation>. invective implies a comparable vehemence but suggests greater verbal and rhetorical skill and may apply to a public denunciation <blistering political invective>. obloquy suggests defamation and consequent shame and disgrace <subjected to obloquy and derision>. billingsgate implies practiced fluency and variety of profane or obscene abuse <directed a stream of billingsgate at the cabdriver>.

Rhymes with ABUSE

Aarhus, abstruse, adduce, Atreus, blue spruce, burnoose, caboose, Cayuse, Cepheus, ceruse, charmeuse, chartreuse, Chartreuse, conduce, couscous, cut loose, deduce, diffuse, disuse, educe, effuse, excuse, fair use, footloose, hang loose, induce, Lanús, misuse, mongoose, Morpheus, negus, obtuse, Orpheus, papoose, Peleus, Perseus, prepuce, produce, profuse, Proteus, Purus, recluse, red spruce, reduce, refuse, retuse, reuse, Sanctus, seduce, slip noose, snow goose, Tereus, Theseus, traduce, transduce, turn loose, unloose, vamoose