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abusive

abusive

70 4.9
Using insulting words or hurtful behavior toward another person
  • adjective
  • /əˈbjuːsɪv/
  • NSFW
translation icon : ofensivo
  • He became verbally abusive, and I ordered Billy out of the house.
  • abusive language
  • verbally abusive
  • abusive behavior

And you, you couldn't be other than abusive in your response to that.

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Examples

  • I need to identify ways in which I am disrespectful or abusive to myself and others around me.

    Academic text (1999)
  • ...I think I've just about had it with your abusive attitude.

  • There are very real reasons why people stay in abusive relationships.

  • And he got really abusive towards the end.

  • Any kind of abusive language is unacceptable, all right?

  • Now, there's no need to be abusive.

  • For instance, in response to an abusive coach, both groups were similarly punitive.

    Academic text (1996)
  • I mean, he's like incredibly verbally abusive as well.

  • Acts of horizontal violence can range from intimidating body language to sarcastic comments and abusive language.

    Academic text (2011)
  • Most of us have faced an abusive supervisor at some point in our professional lives.

Synonyms

offensive
vsabusive
  • Offensive
261 4.0

Likely to make people angry or upset

is more specific to directed disrespect or personal attacks
insulting
vsabusive
  • Offensive
130 3.0

Being rude or saying things that hurt someone

is broader, also covering other rude or harmful actions
hurtful
vsabusive
76 2.8

Causing pain to someone's feelings or making them feel upset

focuses more on the use of rude or offensive language
derogatory
vsabusive
39 6.9

Expressing an insulting, disrespectful view of someone or something

is wider, covering disrespect plus other hurtful or rude acts
scurrilous
vsabusive
  • Offensive
10 9.9

Saying rude and untrue things to hurt someone's reputation

is broader, not limited to coarse style or reputational harm
highly offensive
vsabusive
  • Offensive
2 6.6

Very rude and likely to make people feel angry or hurt

is the general term for various insulting or hurtful behaviours
opprobrious
vsabusive
  • Formal
1 9.9

Making people feel ashamed in public with strong criticism

covers private or public rude and hurtful behaviour as well
highly derogatory
vsabusive
  • Offensive
7.5

Very insulting and likely to deeply offend people

is similar but applies to any offensive or hurtful conduct

Antonyms

348 2.8

Willing to give help or comfort when someone needs it

150 1.1

Being polite and showing admiration for someone

How Abusive

vitriolic
  • Offensive
10 9.3
abusive
  • NSFW
70 4.9
insulting
  • Offensive
130 3.0
offensive
  • Offensive
261 4.0
rude
594 1.0

Surface Forms

abusive positive

Morphology

abusive = abuse (transparent) = abuse + ive

Formed regularly from 'abuse' + '-ive'; learners who know 'abuse' can infer 'characterized by abuse' in the sense of using insulting language.

Etymology

Abusive comes from the word abuse, which originally meant 'to use wrongly' and had the parts ab- 'away' and use 'to use'. So an abusive remark is like 'using words wrongly' to hurt or insult someone.