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abuse

abuse

155 3.4
Rude or insulting words said to hurt someone
  • noun
  • /əˈbjus/
  • Offensive
translation icon : insulto
  • So Jack, I've taken a lot of abuse over the years.
  • verbal abuse
  • victims of verbal abuse

So it was psychological, verbal and emotional abuse and neglect.

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Examples

  • His constant insults and rude remarks felt like nothing but abuse to her.

  • Make clear that the U.S. condones no abuse of human rights anywhere in the world.

    Academic text (1990)
  • And here I am getting nothing but pure hate and abuse every single day.

  • That is mental and emotional abuse of a child who does that.

  • Some of the abuse that we used to get was ridiculous.

  • Racism in football, do you do you still receive racial abuse still today?

  • Patrick Moynihan comes in for, you know, a lot of abuse in this book.

  • They've had to put up with some fairly strong abuse, so it's hardly surprising they feel responsible.

    Fiction book (1996)
  • So it was psychological, verbal and emotional abuse and neglect.

  • I'm not really sure I follow, but I haven't done anything to warrant this kind of abuse.

Synonyms

insult
vsabuse
  • Offensive
313 1.3

A rude remark or action that hurts someone's feelings

is language intended to offend specifically rather than any rude action
profanity
vsabuse
  • Offensive
43 6.0

Words that are rude and upset people, often about religion

is general insulting language aimed to hurt rather than mainly moral offense
slam
vsabuse
  • Offensive
34 6.3

An insulting remark meant to hurt someone

is rude language aimed to offend rather than mainly to criticise strongly
vitriol
vsabuse
  • Offensive
27 9.5

Bitter, angry language that attacks people

is rude language aimed to offend rather than primarily to criticise
invective
vsabuse
  • Offensive
10 8.8

Angry words that strongly insult someone

is plain rude language used to offend rather than mainly to criticise
vilification
vsabuse
  • Formal
6 8.4

Saying or writing very harsh and unfair things about someone to damage their reputation

is rude spoken language aimed to hurt rather than prolonged public attack
nasty comment
vsabuse
  • Offensive
4 3.5

A rude remark that hurts or upsets someone

is rude language aimed to offend rather than a single unpleasant comment
disparagement
vsabuse
3 8.1

Talking about someone in a way that shows dislike and makes them seem unimportant

is insulting language meant to offend rather than express disapproval alone
name calling
vsabuse
  • Offensive
2 4.9

Using insulting words to hurt or shame someone instead of discussing the problem

is insulting language aimed to hurt rather than focus on the issue
insulting remark
vsabuse
  • Offensive
1 3.2

A rude comment meant to hurt someone or show no respect

is rude language aimed to hurt rather than only show disrespect
billingsgate
vsabuse
  • Offensive
1 9.9

Very rude and insulting language used to hurt people

is rude language intended to offend rather than only being coarse or vulgar
cussword
vsabuse
  • Offensive
1 8.6

A rude word people use when angry or to insult someone

is broader rude language intended to offend beyond single offensive words
names
vsabuse
  • Offensive
5.6

Words someone says to hurt another person

is general rude language intended to offend beyond just crude words
revilement
vsabuse
  • Offensive
9.3

A set of harsh insulting words meant to hurt someone

is broader rude language often used to insult rather than formal critique
contumely
vsabuse
  • Offensive
9.9

Rude words or actions that aim to hurt someone

is rude language aimed to hurt rather than include contemptuous behaviour
scurrility
vsabuse
  • Offensive
9.9

Very rude words or actions that hurt people

is rude language aimed to offend rather than focusing on obscenity only

Antonyms

342 1.6

A polite remark that praises someone or something

161 1.0

Words or actions that show admiration for someone

Compounds

91 5.7

Force or trick someone into sex they do not want

child abuse
  • Offensive
86 3.7

Harming children physically, emotionally or sexually, often by an adult who looks after them

52 3.7

Using drugs or alcohol too much so it harms your health

drug abuse
  • NSFW
34 2.8

Using illegal or harmful drugs too often so they harm a person's health and life

18 3.7

Using alcohol too much in a way that harms your health

self-abuse
  • NSFW
2 9.9

The act of touching your own private parts for sexual pleasure

1 5.8

A drug taken for pleasure that changes how you think and can cause addiction or harm

carnal abuse
  • Offensive
9.9

Sex by an adult with someone under the legal age

8.4

An attempt to explain bad behavior by saying you were hurt in the past

Using another person's sadness to get sympathy or personal gain

alcoholic abuse
  • Specialized
4.0

Drinking too much alcohol that harms health, family, or work

alcoholism abuse
  • Specialized
4.9

Harmful heavy drinking that often causes addiction and health problems

How Insulting

hate speech
  • Offensive
41 5.1
harassment
596 4.6
attack
548 3.2
abuse
  • Offensive
155 3.4
insult
  • Offensive
313 1.3

Surface Forms

abuse singular
abuses plural

Etymology

Abuse comes from Latin parts ab- ('away') and uti ('to use'), so it originally meant 'to use wrongly'. So verbal abuse is like using words the wrong way to hurt someone.