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abuse

abuse

337 4.1
Wrong or excessive use of something that causes harm
  • noun
  • /əˈbjus/
translation icon : abuso
  • Understanding who is at risk for prescription drug abuse is important for several reasons.
  • substance abuse
  • drug abuse
  • treatment for abuse

A tilting planet heaving with our abuse and overuse.

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Examples

  • Many people are speaking out against the abuse of authority by leaders in the workplace.

  • Come on, man, she has a history of drug abuse.

  • As a community, we have to take a stand against abuse and protect victims.

  • And there was a lot of drug abuse.

  • Dealing with child protection issues and abuse will make you feel awful.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Poverty is still widespread, and with poverty always comes crime, chemical abuse, and violence.

    Academic text (2011)
  • I hear you're setting up an abuse center on campus.

  • Thus, alcohol accounts for more incarcerations, as well as more substance abuse, than all the illicit drugs combined.

    Academic text (2011)
  • The organization aims to raise awareness about the abuse of children in neglected communities.

  • Reports indicate a significant increase in the abuse of substances among teenagers in recent years.

Synonyms

misuse
vsabuse
45 3.4

Doing something wrong with money, objects, or power

is the more common general term for wrong or excessive use
overuse
vsabuse
16 3.8

Using something too often so it becomes harmful or less effective

also covers wrong or harmful use, not only too much use
misapplication
vsabuse
1 7.5

Using something in a wrong or unsuitable way

focuses on wrong use rather than amount or severity
misusage
vsabuse
1 7.5

Wrong use of words, rules, or tools

is broader, covering wrong or excessive use beyond language cases
overutilization
vsabuse
  • US
1 7.5

Using something too much makes it less useful

is the common plain term for wrong or excessive use
overabuse
vsabuse
7.2

An act of using something too much so it causes harm

covers general improper or excessive use, not only extreme cases

Antonyms

Careful and reliable way of acting that shows a person can be trusted with duties

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 Misused

exploitation
79 5.9
abuse
337 4.1
overuse
16 3.8
to misuse
60 3.9
use
1.0

Surface Forms

abuse singular
abuses plural

Etymology

Abuse comes from Latin parts ab- ('away') and uti ('to use'), carrying the sense of 'use wrongly' or 'use up'. So the idea of abuse here is to use something too much or in the wrong way, which causes harm.