abuse
verb
• use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse.
• "the judge abused his power by imposing the fines"
• treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly.
• "riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted"
Similar:
mistreat,
maltreat,
ill-treat,
treat badly,
ill-use,
misuse,
handle/treat roughly,
knock about,
knock around,
manhandle,
mishandle,
maul,
molest,
interfere with,
indecently assault,
sexually abuse,
sexually assault,
grope,
assault,
hit,
strike,
beat,
injure,
hurt,
harm,
damage,
wrong,
bully,
persecute,
oppress,
torture,
beat up,
rough up,
do over,
Opposite:
look after,
• speak to (someone) in an insulting and offensive way.
• "the referee was abused by players from both teams"
Similar:
insult,
be rude to,
swear at,
curse,
call someone names,
taunt,
shout at,
scold,
rebuke,
upbraid,
reprove,
castigate,
inveigh against,
impugn,
slur,
revile,
smear,
vilify,
vituperate against,
slander,
libel,
cast aspersions on,
offend,
slight,
disparage,
denigrate,
defame,
slag off,
trash-talk,
miscall,
abuse
noun
• the improper use of something.
• "alcohol abuse"
• cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal.
• "a black eye and other signs of physical abuse"
Similar:
mistreatment,
maltreatment,
ill treatment,
ill use,
misuse,
rough treatment,
manhandling,
mishandling,
molestation,
interference,
indecent assault,
sexual abuse,
sexual assault,
assaulting,
hitting,
striking,
beating,
injury,
hurt,
harm,
damage,
wronging,
bullying,
persecution,
oppression,
torture,
beating up,
roughing up,
doing over,
• insulting and offensive language.
• "waving his fists and hurling abuse at the driver"
Similar:
insults,
curses,
jibes,
slurs,
expletives,
swear words,
swearing,
cursing,
name-calling,
scolding,
rebukes,
upbraiding,
reproval,
invective,
castigation,
revilement,
vilification,
vituperation,
slander,
libel,
slights,
disparagement,
denigration,
defamation,
slanging,
a slanging match,
mud-slinging,
disrespect,
verbal(s),
trash talk,
contumely,
Origin:
late Middle English: via Old French from Latin abus- ‘misused’, from the verb abuti, from ab- ‘away’ (i.e. ‘wrongly’) + uti ‘to use’.
