abuse (redirected from abusing)

a·buse  (-byz)

tr.v. a·bused, a·bus·ing, a·bus·es

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

2. To hurt or injure by maltreatment; ill-use.

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

4. To assail with contemptuous, coarse, or insulting words; revile.

5. Obsolete To deceive or trick.

n. (-bys)

1. Improper use or handling; misuse: abuse of authority; drug abuse.

2. Physical maltreatment: spousal abuse.

3. Sexual abuse.

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

5. Insulting or coarse language: verbal abuse.

Idiom:

abuse oneself Vulgar

To masturbate.

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

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a·buser 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. The army had orders not to ill-treat the prisoners. "When we misuse [a language other than our native language], we are in fact trying to reduce its element of foreignness. We let ourselves maltreat it as though it naturally belonged to us" Manchester Guardian Weekly.

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abuse

Noun

1. prolonged ill-treatment of or violence towards someone: child abuse

2. insulting comments

3. improper use: an abuse of power

Verb

[abusing, abused]

1. to take advantage of dishonestly: these two ministers had abused their position for financial gain

2. to ill-treat violently: he had been sexually abused as a child

3. to speak insultingly or cruelly to [Latin abuti to misuse]

abuser n

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"

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abuse

noun 1. maltreatment, wrong, damage, injury, hurt, harm, spoiling, bullying, exploitation, oppression, imposition, mistreatment, manhandling, ill-treatment, rough handling

noun 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

noun 3. misuse, corruption, perversion, misapplication, misemployment, misusage

verb 4. ill-treat, wrong, damage, hurt, injure, harm, mar, oppress, maul, molest, impose upon, manhandle, rough up, brutalize, maltreat, handle roughly, knock about or around << OPPOSITE care for

verb 5. insult, injure, offend, curse, put down, smear, libel, slate (informal), chiefly Brit. slag (off) (slang) malign, scold, swear at, disparage, castigate, revile, vilify, slander, defame, upbraid, slight, inveigh against, call names, traduce, calumniate, vituperate << OPPOSITE praise

Translations

abuse [əˈbjuːs] n (= insults) → insultos mpl; improperios mpl (= misuse); abuso

vt [əˈbjuːz] (= ill-treat) → maltratar (= take advantage of); abusar de;

open to abuse → sujeto al abuso

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abuse n [əˈbjuːs] (= insults) → insultes fpl, injures fpl (= ill-treatment); mauvais traitements mpl [of power etc]; abus m

vt [əˈbjuːz] (= insult) → insulter (= ill-treat); malmener [+ power etc]; abuser de;

to be open to abuse → se prêter à des abus

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abuse [əˈbjuːs] n (insults) → Beschimpfungen pl;

(ill-treatment) → Misshandlung f;

(misuse) → Missbrauch m

vt (see n) → beschimpfen; misshandeln; missbrauchen;

to be open to abuse → sich leicht missbrauchen lassen

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abuse n [əˈbjuːs] → abuso (= insults); ingiurie fpl

vt [əˈbjuːz] → abusare di;

open to abuse → che si presta ad abusi