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   abuse

   verb

   • 1. use (something) to bad effect or for a bad purpose; misuse: "the judge abused his power by imposing the fines" Similar misusemisapplymisemploymishandleexploitperverttake advantage of
   • ▪ make excessive and habitual use of (alcohol or drugs, especially illegal ones): "at various times in her life she abused both alcohol and drugs"
   • 2. treat with cruelty or violence, especially regularly or repeatedly: "riders who abuse their horses should be prosecuted" Similar mistreatmaltreatill-treattreat badlyill-usemisusehandle/treat roughlyknock aboutknock aroundmanhandlemishandlemaulmolestinterfere withindecently assaultsexually abusesexually assaultgropeassaulthitstrikebeatinjurehurtharmdamagewrongbullypersecuteoppresstortureinformal:beat uprough updo overOpposite look after
   • ▪ assault (someone, especially a woman or child) sexually: "he was a depraved man who had abused his two young daughters"
   • ▪ masturbate. euphemistic
   • ▪ use or treat in such a way as to cause damage or harm: "he had been abusing his body for years" Similar mistreatmaltreatill-treattreat badlyill-usemisusehandle/treat roughlyknock aboutknock aroundmanhandlemishandlemaulmolestinterfere withindecently assaultsexually abusesexually assaultgropeassaulthitstrikebeatinjurehurtharmdamagewrongbullypersecuteoppresstortureinformal:beat uprough updo overOpposite look after
   • 3. speak to (someone) in an insulting and offensive way: "the referee was abused by players from both teams" Similar insultbe rude toswear atcursecall someone namestauntshout atscoldrebukeupbraidreprovecastigateinveigh againstimpugnslurrevilesmearvilifyvituperate againstslanderlibelcast aspersions onoffendslightdisparagedenigratedefameinformal:slag offtrash-talkarchaic:miscallOpposite complimentflatter

   noun

   • 1. the improper use of something: "alcohol abuse" Similar misusemisapplicationmisemploymentmishandlingexploitationperversion
   • ▪ unjust or corrupt practice: "protection against fraud and abuse" Similar corruptioninjusticewrongdoingwrongmisconductdelinquencymisdeed(s)offence (s)crimefaultsin
   • 2. cruel and violent treatment of a person or animal: "a black eye and other signs of physical abuse" Similar mistreatmentmaltreatmentill treatmentill usemisuserough treatmentmanhandlingmishandlingmolestationinterferenceindecent assaultsexual abusesexual assaultassaultinghittingstrikingbeatinginjuryhurtharmdamagewrongingbullyingpersecutionoppressiontortureinformal:beating uproughing updoing overOpposite care
   • ▪ violent treatment involving sexual assault, especially on a regular basis: "young people who have suffered sexual abuse"
   • 3. insulting and offensive language: "waving his fists and hurling abuse at the driver" Similar insultscursesjibesslursexpletivesswear wordsswearingcursingname-callingscoldingrebukesupbraidingreprovalinvectivecastigationrevilementvilificationvituperationslanderlibelslightsdisparagementdenigrationdefamationinformal:slanginga slanging matchmud-slingingdisrespectverbal(s)trash talkarchaic:contumelyOpposite complimentsflattery

   Word Origin late Middle English: via Old French from Latin abus- ‘misused’, from the verb abuti, from ab- ‘away’ (i.e. ‘wrongly’) + uti ‘to use’.

   Scrabble Points: 7

   • A

     1

   • B

     3

   • U

     1

   • S

     1

   • E

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