abuse

UK: noun: /əˈbjuːs/, verb: /əˈbjuːz/

US: /v. əˈbjuz; n. əˈbjus/

US: (v. ə byo̅o̅z′; n. ə byo̅o̅s′)

Inflections of 'abuse' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

abuses

v 3rd person singular

abusing

v pres p

underused

v past

underused

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•buse /v. əˈbyuz; n. əˈbyus/   v., a•bused, a•bus•ing, n. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to use wrongly or improperly;
   misuse:
   to abuse authority.
2. to treat in a harmful or injurious way:
   to abuse a horse by making it run too far.
3. to speak insultingly or harshly to or about:
   to abuse someone over the telephone.
4. to mistreat physically or sexually.

n. 

5. wrong, improper, or excessive use;
   misuse:
   [uncountable] drug abuse.
   [countable] That act was an abuse of power.
6. [uncountable] harsh, coarse, insulting language.
7. harsh treatment:
   [uncountable] The hostages suffered abuse during their captivity.
8. [uncountable] physical or sexual mistreatment.

a•bu•sive /əˈbyusɪv/  adj. 
a•bu•sive•ly, adv. 

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

a•buse  (v. ə byo̅o̅z′;n. ə byo̅o̅s′), v., a•bused, a•bus•ing, n. 
v.t. 

1. to use wrongly or improperly;
   misuse:
   to abuse one's authority.
2. to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way:
   to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
3. to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about;
   revile;
   malign.
4. to commit sexual assault upon.
5. [Obs.] to deceive or mislead.
6. abuse oneself, to masturbate.

n. 

7. wrong or improper use;
   misuse:
   the abuse of privileges.
8. harshly or coarsely insulting language:
   The officer heaped abuse on his men.
9. bad or improper treatment;
   maltreatment:
   The child was subjected to cruel abuse.
10. a corrupt or improper practice or custom:
    the abuses of a totalitarian regime.
11. rape or sexual assault.
12. [Obs.] deception.

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

a•bus•a•ble  (ə byo̅o̅′zə bəl), adj.  a•bus′er, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. misapply.
• 2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt.
• 3. vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce.
• 7. misapplication.
• 8. slander, aspersion.
  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.

Antonyms

• 3, 8. praise.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

abuse verb / əˈbjuːz/(transitive)

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

noun / əˈbjuːs/

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. a deception

Etymology: 14th Century (vb): via Old French from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī to misuse, from ab-¹ + ūtī to use

aˈbuser noun