abuse

[ verb uh-byooz; noun uh-byoos ]
/ verb əˈbyuz; noun əˈbyus /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR abuse ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), a·bused, a·bus·ing.

noun

Idioms for abuse

    abuse oneself, to masturbate.

Origin of abuse

1400–50; (v.) late Middle English abusen < Middle French abuser, verbal derivative of abus < Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse ( ab- ab- + ūtī to use) + -tus suffix of v. action; (noun) late Middle English abus < Middle French abus or Latin abūsus

synonym study for abuse

7. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM abuse

Words nearby abuse

abundant number, abundant year, abundantly, abury, abusage, abuse, abusive, abut, abutilon, abutment, abuttal

Words related to abusing

harm, violate, maltreat, impair, corrupt, persecute, mistreat, misuse, molest, victimize, squander, offend, revile, insult, exploit, defile, roughhouse, mishandle, pollute, ill-treat

Example sentences from the Web for abusing

British Dictionary definitions for abusing

abuse

verb (əˈbjuːz) (tr)

noun (əˈbjuːs)

Derived forms of abuse

abuser, noun

Word Origin for abuse

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

Medical definitions for abusing

abuse
[ ə-byōōz′ ]

v.

n.

Other words from abuse

a•bus′er n.