abuse

abuse

mishandle; misapply; pervert; revile, malign; mistreat: The greater the power, the more dangerous the abuse.

Not to be confused with:

disabuse – to free a person from deception, error, or misconception: I want to disabuse you of your opinion of the gentleman.

Abused, Confused, & Misused Words by Mary Embree Copyright © 2007, 2013 by Mary Embree

a·buse

 (ə-byo͞oz′)

tr.v. a·bused, a·bus·ing, a·bus·es

1. To use improperly or excessively; misuse: abuse alcohol; abuse a privilege.

2. To hurt or injure by maltreatment; ill-use: animals that were abused by a negligent owner.

3. To force sexual activity on; rape or molest.

4. To assail with insulting or hurtful words; revile.

5. Obsolete To deceive or trick.

n. (ə-byo͞os′)

1.

a. Improper or excessive use; misuse: abuse of authority; drug abuse.

b. Rough treatment or use: shoes that have taken a lot of abuse.

2.

a. Physical maltreatment or violence: spousal abuse.

b. Sexual abuse.

c. Insulting or hurtful language, especially when used to threaten or demoralize: subjected her subordinates to verbal abuse.

3. An unjust or wrongful practice: a government that commits abuses against its citizens.

Idiom:

abuse oneself

To masturbate.

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[Middle English abusen, from Old French abuser, from abus, improper use, from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī, to misuse : ab-, away; see ab-¹ + ūtī, to use.]

---

a·bus′er n.

Synonyms: abuse, misuse, mistreat, ill-treat, maltreat
These verbs mean to treat wrongfully or harmfully. Abuse applies to injurious or improper treatment: "We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us" (Aldo Leopold).
Misuse stresses incorrect or unknowledgeable handling: "How often misused words generate misleading thoughts" (Herbert Spencer).
Mistreat, ill-treat, and maltreat all share the sense of inflicting injury, often intentionally: "I had seen many more patients die from being mistreated for consumption than from consumption itself" (Earl of Lytton)."Experienced people ... become suspicious of those who by their own account are invariably ill-treated by the world" (Bertrand Russell)."[The professor was charged with] underpaying, neglecting, or otherwise maltreating his assistants" (David Rains Wallace).

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

abuse

vb (tr)

1. to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse

2. to maltreat, esp physically or sexually

3. to speak insultingly or cruelly to; revile

4. (reflexive) to masturbate

n

5. improper, incorrect, or excessive use; misuse

6. (Sociology) maltreatment of a person; injury

7. insulting, contemptuous, or coarse speech

8. an evil, unjust, or corrupt practice

9. (Social Welfare) See child abuse

10. archaic a deception

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

aˈbuser n

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

a•buse

(v. əˈbyuz; n. əˈbyus)

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 or injurious way: to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.

3. to speak insultingly or harshly to or about; revile.

4. to commit sexual assault upon.

5. Obs. to deceive or mislead.

n.

6. wrong, improper, or excessive use; misuse: the abuse of privileges; drug abuse.

7. harshly or coarsely insulting language.

8. bad or improper treatment; maltreatment.

9. a corrupt or improper practice or custom.

10. rape or sexual assault.

11. Obs. deception.

Idioms:

abuse oneself, to masturbate.

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

a•bus′a•ble (-zə bəl) adj.

a•bus′er, n.

syn: abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words, often against one who is defenseless: abuse directed against an opponent. censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or condemnation: severe censure of her bad judgment. invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

abuse

Past participle: abused
Gerund: abusing

Imperative

abuse

abuse

Collins English Verb Tables © HarperCollins Publishers 2011

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	abuse - cruel or inhumane treatment; "the child showed signs of physical abuse" ill-treatment, ill-usage, maltreatment mistreatment - the practice of treating (someone or something) badly; "he should be punished for his mistreatment of his mother" child abuse - the physical or emotional or sexual mistreatment of children child neglect - failure of caretakers to provide adequate emotional and physical care for a child persecution - the act of persecuting (especially on the basis of race or religion) cruelty, inhuman treatment - a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering
	2.	abuse - a rude expression intended to offend or hurt; "when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse"; "they yelled insults at the visiting team" contumely, insult, revilement, vilification discourtesy, disrespect - an expression of lack of respect low blow - unscrupulous abuse billingsgate, scurrility - foul-mouthed or obscene abuse stinger, cut - a remark capable of wounding mentally; "the unkindest cut of all" invective, vituperation, vitriol - abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will
	3.	abuse - improper or excessive use; "alcohol abuse"; "the abuse of public funds" misuse usage, use, utilisation, utilization, exercise, employment - the act of using; "he warned against the use of narcotic drugs"; "skilled in the utilization of computers" drug abuse, substance abuse, habit - excessive use of drugs
Verb	1.	abuse - treat badly; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead" ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, mistreat, step do by, treat, handle - interact in a certain way; "Do right by her"; "Treat him with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters gently" kick around - treat badly; abuse; "They won't have me to kick around any more!"
	2.	abuse - change the inherent purpose or function of something; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers" misuse, pervert fracture - violate or abuse; "This writer really fractures the language" expend, use - use up, consume fully; "The legislature expended its time on school questions" take in vain - use a name, such as God, without proper respect
	3.	abuse - use foul or abusive language towards; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher" blackguard, clapperclaw, shout slang - abuse with coarse language revile, vilify, vituperate, rail - spread negative information about; "The Nazi propaganda vilified the Jews" lash out, attack, snipe, assail, assault, round - attack in speech or writing; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" curse - heap obscenities upon; "The taxi driver who felt he didn't get a high enough tip cursed the passenger"
	4.	abuse - use wrongly or improperly or excessively; "Her husband often abuses alcohol"; "while she was pregnant, she abused drugs" expend, use - use up, consume fully; "The legislature expended its time on school questions"

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

abuse

noun

1. maltreatment, wrong, damage, injury, hurt, harm, spoiling, bullying, exploitation, oppression, imposition, mistreatment, manhandling, ill-treatment, rough handling an investigation into alleged child abuse

2. insults, blame, slights, curses, put-downs, libel, censure, reproach, scolding, defamation, indignities, offence, tirade, derision, slander, rudeness, vilification, invective, swear words, opprobrium, insolence, upbraiding, aspersions, character assassination, disparagement, vituperation, castigation, contumely, revilement, traducement, calumniation I was left shouting abuse as the car sped off.

3. misuse, corruption, perversion, misapplication, misemployment, misusage an abuse of power

verb

1. ill-treat, wrong, damage, hurt, injure, harm, mar, oppress, maul, molest, impose upon, manhandle, rough up, brutalize, shit on (taboo slang), maltreat, handle roughly, knock about or around She had been abused by her father.
ill-treat protect, care for

2. insult, injure, offend, curse, put down, smear, libel, slate (informal, chiefly Brit.), slag (off) (slang), malign, scold, swear at, disparage, castigate, revile, vilify, slander, diss (slang, chiefly U.S.), defame, upbraid, slight, flame (informal), inveigh against, call names, traduce, calumniate, vituperate He alleged that he was verbally abused by other soldiers.
insult respect, praise, acclaim, flatter, compliment, commend, extol, big up (slang, chiefly Caribbean)

3. exploit, take advantage of, manipulate, misuse He showed how the rich and powerful can abuse their position.

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

abuse

verb

1. To use wrongly and improperly:

misapply, misappropriate, mishandle, misuse, pervert.

2. To take advantage of unfairly:

exploit, impose, presume, use.

3. To hurt or injure by maltreatment:

ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, mishandle, mistreat, misuse.

4. To attack with harsh, often insulting language:

assail, rail against (or at), revile, vituperate.

noun

1. Wrong, often corrupt use:

misapplication, misappropriation, mishandling, misuse, perversion.

2. Physically harmful treatment:

ill-treatment, maltreatment, mishandling, mistreatment, misusage.

3. Harsh, often insulting language:

billingsgate, contumely, invective, obloquy, railing, revilement, reviling, scurrility, scurrilousness, vituperation.

The American Heritage® Roget's Thesaurus. Copyright © 2013, 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Translations

إسَاءَة إسْتِعْمَالسُوْءُ الاِسْتِعْمالشَتِيمَه، شَتْميُؤْذِييُسِيء إسْتِعْمَال

zneužítzneužitízneužívánínadávatnadávka

misbrugmisbrugemishandlemishandlingskælde ud

MissbrauchmissbrauchenVergewaltigungAbususbeschimpfen

κατάχρησηβρισιέςκακοποίησηκακοποιώ

abusoinjuriarinsultarinsultomaltrato

pahoinpitelysolvatasolvausväärinkäyttääväärinkäyttö

maltraiterabusinjureinjurierinsulter

השתלחהשתלחותהתעללהתעללותניצול לרעה

दुरूपयोग

zlostavljanjezlostavljati

gorombáskodáshelytelen használatvisszaél

ill meîferîmisnotamóîgunsvívirîa

abusareabusoabuso sessualeapprofittare dicontumelia

濫用する虐待虐待する酷使するののしる

남용학대하다

abutor

grubiai elgtisnetinkamas elgesyspiktnaudžiautiužgauliaiužgauliojimas

apvainojumsapvainotlamasļaunprātīgi izmantotnepareiza lietošana, ekspluatēšana

misbruikmisbruikenmishandelenmishandelingonteren

misbrukmisbrukemishandlemishandlingskjelle ut

nadużyciewykorzystaćwykorzystywanie

abusarabuso

злоупотреблениеоскорблениеоскорблятьруганьхула

poškodzovanie

žalitižaljivkazlorabazlorabitizmerjati

missbrukmissbrukamisshandelmisshandla

การข่มเหงข่มเหง

kötüye kullanmaksuiistimal etmektacizhakarethakaret etmek

lạm dụngsự lạm dụng

侵犯凌辱滥用辱骂

abuse

A. [əˈbjuːs] N

1. (= insults) → insultos mpl, improperios mpl (more frm)
to heap abuse on sb; hurl abuse at sb → llenar a algn de improperios

2. (= misuse) → abuso m
abuse of trust/power → abuso de confianza/poder
open to abuse → abierto al abuso
see also child B
see also drug C
see also sexual B

B. [əˈbjuːz] VT

1. (= insult) → insultar, injuriar
he roundly abused the government → dijo mil improperios contra el gobierno

2. (= mistreat) [+ child] (physically) → maltratar; (sexually) → abusar de

3. (= misuse) [+ position, privilege] → abusar de

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

abuse

[əˈbjuːs]

n

(= mistreatment) (physical) → mauvais traitements mpl child abuse, sexual abuse

(verbal) → insultes fpl, injures fpl
to shout abuse at sb → hurler des insultes à qn

(= misuse) [power, position] → abus m
to be open to abuse → se prêter à des abus

[drugs, alcohol] → abus m

[əˈbjuːz] vt

(= mistreat) (physically) [+ child, patient] → maltraiter
abused children → les enfants maltraités
to be abused → être maltraité(e)

(verbally) → insulter

to abuse drugs → se droguer
to abuse alcohol → s'adonner à la boisson

(= misuse) [+ power, position] → abuser de

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

abuse

n

no pl (= insults) → Beschimpfungen pl; a term of abuse → ein Schimpfwort nt; to shout abuse at somebody → jdm Beschimpfungen an den Kopf werfen; to heap abuse on somebody → jdn mit Beschimpfungen überschütten ? shower, stream

(= misuse) → Missbrauch m; (= unjust practice) → Missstand m; abuse of confidence/authority → Vertrauens-/Amtsmissbrauch m; abuse of power → Machtmissbrauch m; the system is open to abuse → das System lässt sich leicht missbrauchen

vt

(= revile) → beschimpfen, schmähen (geh)

(= misuse) → missbrauchen; one’s health → Raubbau treiben mit

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

abuse

[n əˈbjuːs; vb əˈbjuːz]

1. n

a. (insults) → insulti mpl, ingiurie fpl, improperi mpl
to heap abuse on sb → coprire qn di insulti

b. (cruel treatment, of children) → abuso; (of patients, prisoners) → maltrattamento

c. (misuse, of drugs, solvents) → abuso
abuse of power → abuso di potere
open to abuse → che si presta ad abusi

2. vt

a. (misuse, position, power) → abusare di; (drugs, solvents) → far abuso di

b. (revile) → insultare

c. (maltreat, children) → approfittare sessualmente di; (patients, prisoners) → maltrattare

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

abuse

(əˈbjuːz) verb

1. to use wrongly, usually with harmful results. She abused her privileges by taking too long a holiday. misbruik يُسِيء إسْتِعْمَال злоупотребявам abusar zneužít mißbrauchen misbruge; mishandle καταχρώμαιabusar de kuritarvitama سواستفاده کردن käyttää väärin abuser de לְהִתעָלֵל दुर्व्यवहार zlorabiti visszaél (vmivel) menyalahgunakan misnota abusare 乱用する 남용하다 piktnaudžiauti ļaunprātīgi izmantot menyalahgunakan misbruikenmisbruke, mishandlenadużyć غلطه ګټه اخيستنه abusar a abuza (de) злоупотреблять zneužiť zlorabiti zloupotrebljavati missbruka ใช้ในทางที่ผิด kötüye kullanmak, suiistimal etmek 濫用 зловживати بد سلوکی کرنا lạm dụng 滥用

2. to insult or speak roughly to. She abused the servants. mishandel يَشْتُم، يُهِين،يَذُم оскърбявам insultar urážet, nadávat beschimpfen skælde ud εξυβρίζω, προσβάλλωinjuriar solvama ناسزا گفتن loukata injurier לְגָדֶף, לְהָעַלִיב अपशब्द grditi sérteget, rosszul bánik vkivel menyakiti hati svívirða insultare ののしる 욕하다 grubiai elgtis, užgaulioti apvainot; zākāt maki hamun beledigenskjelle ut obrażać, lżyć بد ويل insultar a înjura; a insulta оскорблять nadávať, urážať zmerjati, žaliti vređati skymfa, skälla på ข่มเหง hakaret etmek, kötü davranmak 羞辱 ображати; лаяти گالی دینا sỉ nhục 凌辱

(əˈbjuːs) noun

1. insulting language. He shouted abuse at her. belediging شَتِيمَه، شَتْم ругатни insulto urážka, nadávka die Beschimpfungen skældsord εξύβριση, βρισιά, προσβολήimproperio solvang فحش loukkaus injure גִדוּפִים וְעֶלבּוֹנוֹת , גִידוּפִים וְעֶלבּוֹנוֹת गालियां pogrda gorombáskodás menyakiti hati móðgun insulto, ingiuria 悪口 욕설 užgauliojimas apvainojums; lamas mencaci beledigingen skjellsord obelgi بد وينه insulto insultă, injurie оскорбление nadávka, urážka žaljivka uvreda ovett, smädelser การสบประมาท hakaret 辱罵 образа; лайка گالی ، دشنام sự sỉ vả 辱骂

2. the wrong use of something. This toy has been subjected to a lot of abuse. mishandel إسَاءَة إسْتِعْمَال злоупотреба maus tratos špatné zacházení der Mißbrauch misbrug; mishandling κακομεταχείριση maltrato väärtarvitus استفادۀ غلط väärinkäyttö usage abusif התעללות गलत उपयोग zloporaba helytelen használat perlakuan tak semestinya ill meðferð cattivo uso 乱用 오용 netinkamas elgesys nepareiza lietošana, ekspluatēšana salah guna misbruikmisbruk, mishandling złe traktowanie غلطه استفاده maltrato utilizare greşită плохое обращение poškodzovanie, zneužitie zloraba zloupotreba missbruk การใช้ในทางที่ผิด kötü kullanım 亂用或誤用 зловживання استحصال sự lạm dụng 滥用

aˈbusive (-siv) adjective

using insulting language. He wrote an abusive letter to the manager. kwaai بَذِيء، مُهِين оскърбителен insultante urážlivý, sprostý beleidigend fræk; grov; fornærmende υβριστικόςofensivo, injurioso, ultrajante solvav توهین آمیز loukkaava injurieux פוגע, מעליב निन्दक pogrdan gyalázkodó menyakiti hati svívirðilegur ingiurioso ののしりの 입버릇 사나운 užgaulus aizvainojošs; aizskarošs bahasa kesat beledigendgrov, fornærmendeobelżywy سپكاوى insultuoso injurios оскорбительный hanlivý žaljiv uvredljiv oförskämd, smädlig ซึ่งหมิ่นประมาท hakaret edici, aşağılayıcı, küfürlü 侮辱的 образливий, лайливий بد زبانی بھری lăng mạ 凌辱的

aˈbusively adverb

misbruikend بِبَذَاءَة، بِإهَانَة оскърбително abusivamente urážlivě, sprostě mißbräuchlich groft; fornærmende υβριστικά injuriosamente, ofensivamente solvavalt بطور اهانت آمیز loukkaavasti injurieusement בְּאוֹפֶן מַעֲלִיב निंदात्मक रूप से pogrdno sértően, becsmérlően secara menyakiti hati svívirðilega in modo ingiurioso 口ぎたなく 입버릇 사납게 užgauliai aizvainojoši; aizskaroši dengan kesat beledigendgrovt, fornærmende obelżywie په سپكاوى سره abusivamente (în mod) abuziv оскорбительно hanlivo, nemiestne žaljivo uvredljivo oförskämt, smädligt อย่างหมิ่นประมาท hakaret edici şekilde 侮辱地 образливо گالی گلوچ کے ساتھ một cách lăng mạ 凌辱地

aˈbusiveness noun

misbruik بَذَاءَة، إهَانَة، إعْتِسَاف грубост abuso sprostota der Mißbrauch misbrug; mishandling; udskælden; fornærmen υβριστικότητα ofensa verbal häbematus هتاکی loukkaavuus grossièreté verbale גַדְפָנוּת निंदात्मक pogrdnost durvaság, gorombaság perkataan menyakiti hati dónaskapur, hrottaskapur insolenza 口ぎたないこと 입버릇 사나움 užgauliojimas ļaunprātīga izmantošana deraan grofheidmisbruk; mishandling; utskjelling złorzeczenie سپكاوى abuso abuz оскорбительность hrubosť, nemiestnosť žaljiv ton vređanje oförskämdhet การหมิ่นประมาท ağzı bozukluk, suiistimal, kötüye kullanma 侮辱 образливість گالی گلوچ sự lăng mạ 凌辱

Kernerman English Multilingual Dictionary © 2006-2013 K Dictionaries Ltd.

abuse

→ سُوْءُ الاِسْتِعْمال, يُؤْذِي zneužít, zneužívání misbrug, misbruge Missbrauch, missbrauchen κακοποίηση, κακοποιώ abusar, abuso käyttää väärin, pahoinpitely maltraiter, mauvais traitement zlostavljanje, zlostavljati abusare, abuso 濫用する, 虐待 남용, 학대하다 misbruik, misbruiken misbruk, misbruke wykorzystać, wykorzystywanie abusar, abuso оскорбление, оскорблять missbruk, missbruka การข่มเหง, ข่มเหง kötüye kullanmak, taciz lạm dụng, sự lạm dụng 侵犯

Multilingual Translator © HarperCollins Publishers 2009

a·buse

n. abuso, uso exagerado; maltrato;

___ of medication → uso exagerado de medicamentos o drogas;

spouse ___ → ___ conyugal;

verbal ___ → maltrato de palabra, insulto;

vt. [to take advantage of] abusar de; maltratar; seducir.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

abuse

n abuso, maltrato; child — maltrato or abuso infantil, maltrato a (los) niños, abuso de (los) niños; drug — abuso de drogas; drug of — droga de abuso; elder — maltrato a (las) personas mayores, maltrato a (los) adultos mayores (Amer); physical — maltrato or abuso físico; psychological — maltrato or abuso psicológico; sexual — maltrato or abuso sexual; substance — abuso de sustancias, abuso de drogas o alcohol; vt abusar, maltratar; to — drugs abusar de drogas

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.