abuse

[ verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos ]

verb (used with object)

, a·bused, a·bus·ing.

1. to use wrongly or improperly; misuse:

   to abuse one's authority.

   Synonyms: misapply

2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way:

   to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.

   Synonyms: hurt, harm, injure, maltreat, ill-use

3. to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.

   Synonyms: scold, berate, vituperate, vilify, traduce, calumniate, defame, slander

   Antonyms: praise

4. to commit sexual assault upon.
5. Obsolete. to deceive or mislead.

noun

1. wrong or improper use; misuse:

   the abuse of privileges.

   Synonyms: misapplication

2. harshly or coarsely insulting language:

   The officer heaped abuse on his men.

   Synonyms: aspersion, slander

   Antonyms: praise

3. bad or improper treatment; maltreatment:

   The child was subjected to cruel abuse.

4. a corrupt or improper practice or custom:

   the abuses of a totalitarian regime.

5. rape or sexual assault.
6. Obsolete. deception.

abuse

verb

1. to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse
2. to maltreat, esp physically or sexually
3. to speak insultingly or cruelly to; revile
4. reflexive to masturbate

noun

1. improper, incorrect, or excessive use; misuse
2. maltreatment of a person; injury
3. insulting, contemptuous, or coarse speech
4. an evil, unjust, or corrupt practice
5. See child abuse
6. archaic.
   a deception

Derived Forms

• aˈbuser, noun

Other Words From

• a·bus·a·ble [uh, -, byoo, -z, uh, -b, uh, l], adjective
• a·buser noun
• anti·a·buse adjective
• over·a·buse noun verb (used with object) overabused overabusing
• una·busa·ble adjective
• una·bused adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of abuse¹

First recorded in 1400–50; (for the noun) late Middle English abus, from Middle French, from Latin abūsus “misuse, waste,” noun use of past participle of abūtī “to use up, misuse,” from ab- ab- + ūtī “to use, employ, enjoy”; use; verb derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of abuse¹

c14 (vb): via Old French from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī to misuse, from ab- ¹+ ūtī to use

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. abuse oneself, to masturbate.

Synonym Study

Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.

Example Sentences

He later moved to Zimbabwe and later South Africa, where he abused up to 100 boys aged 13 to 17, the review said.

From BBC

Yuan was racially abused alongside a female colleague outside Wembley Stadium by Real Madrid supporters after the Champions League final in June.

From BBC

She said: “If you look at the breadth of the abuse, this didn’t just happen in Harrods. I’m already hearing from survivors who are saying this happened in other areas.”

From BBC

It calls for rooting out “waste, fraud, and abuse,” that all-purpose chimera evoked by budget-cutters as a painless way of reducing costs, but which no one ever seems to accomplish.

From Los Angeles Times

He argued that it's a view that allows men "to blame others—sometimes innocent people—for their own abuse of power."

From Salon

Related Words

• beat up
• corrupt
• harm
• impair
• maltreat
• mistreat
• misuse
• molest
• persecute
• victimize
• violate

About This Word

What does abuse mean?

Warning: This article involves discussion of the sensitive topics of physical and emotional abuse and substance abuse. If you or someone you know needs support, please visit the National Domestic Violence Hotline site to chat or call the hotline at 1-800-799-7233. For support with substance abuse, call the National Helpline at 1-800-662-4357.

The verb abuse most commonly means to mistreat and cause harm to a person or an animal.

The noun abuse refers to such mistreatment. The victim of the abuse or the kind of abuse is often specified before the word, as in child abuse, spousal abuse, animal abuse, physical abuse, emotional abuse, and sexual abuse.

A person who abuses someone can be called an abuser, and such a person is said to be abusive.

Abuse can also be used as a verb meaning to misuse something or as a noun meaning misuse—referring to the overuse or improper use of things. This sense of the word is especially seen in the phrases alcohol abuse, drug abuse, substance abuse, and abuse of power.

As a verb, abuse is pronounced uh-BYOOZ. As a noun, it’s pronounced uh-BYOOS. This same pronunciation pattern is seen in the verb and noun forms of the word use (which rhyme with the verb and noun forms of abuse, respectively).

Example: Just because it’s not physical doesn’t mean it’s not abuse—emotional abuse can leave its own scars.​

Where does abuse come from?

The first records of the word abuse come from the 1400s. It comes from the Latin abūsus, from the Latin verb abūtī, meaning “to misuse.” The prefix ab- means “outside of” or “opposite to.”

We often think of abuse as a repeated behavior, and it often is, but even a single instance of mistreatment qualifies as abuse. Unfortunately, abuse can happen in many forms, and those forms are often specified along with the word.

When abuse is used to refer to misuse of something (as opposed to the mistreatment of someone), it’s often associated with seriously negative behavior, like alcohol abuse (which refers to the overconsumption of alcohol, often due to addiction). However, both the noun and verb can be applied to less serious situations, as in My kids abuse their shoes so much that I have to buy them a new pair every few months.

When the plural abuses is used, it often has a slightly different meaning. When we talk about the abuses of a government or organization, we typically use the word to mean “corrupt or improper practices.”

Did you know ... ?

What are some other forms related to abuse?

• abuser (noun)
• abused (adjective, noun)
• abusive (adjective)

What are some synonyms for abuse?

• misuse
• mistreat
• mistreatment

What are some words that share a root or word element with abuse? 

 

• use
• utilize
• abnormal

What are some words that often get used in discussing abuse?

• child
• spousal
• physical
• domestic
• emotional
• animal
• drug
• alcohol
• substance
• violence

How is abuse used in real life?

Abuse is always used negatively, and discussions about abuse are usually very serious.

Paedophile priest Gerald Ridsdale's prison term extended for sexual abuse of boys in 1970s https://t.co/Qh0ibQtyIS

— ABC News (@abcnews) May 14, 2020

Every citizen can step up to oppose abuse of power, since power is granted by the people. Withholding information and giving out erroneous information, and hypnotizing the public to make choices against its own interest, is not informed consent; it is psychological manipulation.

— Bandy X Lee, MD, MDiv (@BandyXLee1) May 14, 2020

If you or someone you know are suffering domestic abuse you can access help and advice herehttps://t.co/mgvLVKjQO0

Including support organisations and reporting options#domesticabuse

— West Yorkshire's Police and Crime Commissioner (@WestYorksOPCC) May 19, 2020