First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
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
See abuse defined for English-language learners
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Origin of ABUSE
Middle English, from Middle French abus, from Latin abusus, from abuti to consume, from ab- + uti to use
Related to ABUSE
- Synonyms
- billingsgate, fulmination, invective, obloquy, scurrility, vitriol, vituperation
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
2abuse
verb \ə-ˈbyüz\
: to treat (a person or animal) in a harsh or harmful way
: to use or treat (something) in a way that causes damage
: to use (something) wrongly
abusedabus·ing
Full Definition of ABUSE
transitive verb
1
a : to put to a wrong or improper use <abuse a privilege> b : to use excessively <abuse alcohol>; also : to use without medical justification <abusing painkillers>
2
obsolete : deceive
3
: to use so as to injure or damage : maltreat
See abuse defined for English-language learners
See abuse defined for kids
First Known Use of ABUSE
15th century
ABUSE Defined for Kids
1abuse
noun \ə-ˈbyüs\
Definition of ABUSE for Kids
1
: wrong or unfair treatment or use <abuse of power>
2
: the act or practice of improperly using or of using in harmful amounts <drug abuse>
3
: harmful treatment of a person or an animal
4
: harsh insulting language <“Never a kind word for old Templeton, only abuse and wisecracks …” — E. B. White, Charlotte's Web>
5
: a dishonest practice <election abuses>
2abuse
verb \ə-ˈbyüz\
abusedabus·ing
Definition of ABUSE for Kids
1
: to treat in a cruel or harmful way <abuse an animal>
2
: to use wrongly : misuse <abuse privileges>
3
: to use improperly or in harmful amounts <abuse drugs>
4
: to blame or scold rudely
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