abuse Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun cruel or inhumane treatment
    maltreatment; ill-treatment; ill-usage.
    • the child showed signs of physical abuse
  2. noun a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
    revilement; vilification; contumely; insult.
    • when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse
    • they yelled insults at the visiting team
  3. noun improper or excessive use
    misuse.
    • alcohol abuse
    • the abuse of public funds
  4. verb treat badly
    ill-use; ill-treat; maltreat; step; mistreat.
    • This boss abuses his workers
    • She is always stepping on others to get ahead
  5. verb change the inherent purpose or function of something
    misuse; pervert.
    • Don't abuse the system
    • The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers
  6. verb use foul or abusive language towards
    shout; blackguard; clapperclaw.
    • The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket
    • The angry mother shouted at the teacher
  7. verb use wrongly or improperly or excessively
    • Her husband often abuses alcohol
    • while she was pregnant, she abused drugs

WordNet

A*buse" transitive verb
Etymology
F. abuser; L. abusus, p. p. of abuti to abuse, misuse; ab + uti to use. See Use.
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Abused present participle & verbal noun Abusing
Definitions
  1. To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to misuse; to put to a bad use; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert; as, to abuse inherited gold; to make an excessive use of; as, to abuse one's authority.
    This principle (if one may so abuse the word) shoots rapidly into popularity. Froude.
  2. To use ill; to maltreat; to act injuriously to; to punish or to tax excessively; to hurt; as, to abuse prisoners, to abuse one's powers, one's patience.
  3. To revile; to reproach coarsely; to disparage.
    The . . . tellers of news abused the general. Macaulay.
  4. To dishonor. "Shall flight abuse your name?" Shak.
  5. To violate; to ravish. Spenser.
  6. To deceive; to impose on. Obs.
    Their eyes red and staring, cozened with a moist cloud, and abused by a double object. Jer. Taylor.
    Syn. -- To maltreat; injure; revile; reproach; vilify; vituperate; asperse; traduce; malign.
A*buse" noun
Etymology
F. abus, L. abusus, fr. abuti. See Abuse, v. t.
Definitions
  1. Improper treatment or use; application to a wrong or bad purpose; misuse; as, an abuse of our natural powers; an abuse of civil rights, or of privileges or advantages; an abuse of language.
    Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty, as well as by the abuses of power. Madison.
  2. Physical ill treatment; injury. "Rejoice . . . at the abuse of Falstaff." Shak.
  3. A corrupt practice or custom; offense; crime; fault; as, the abuses in the civil service.
    Abuse after disappeared without a struggle.. Macaulay.
  4. Vituperative words; coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; virulent condemnation; reviling.
    The two parties, after exchanging a good deal of abuse, came to blows. Macaulay.
  5. Violation; rape; as, abuse of a female child. Obs.
    Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? Shak.
    Syn. -- Invective; contumely; reproach; scurrility; insult; opprobrium. -- Abuse, Invective. Abuse is generally prompted by anger, and vented in harsh and unseemly words. It is more personal and coarse than invective. Abuse generally takes place in private quarrels; invective in writing or public discussions. Invective may be conveyed in refined language and dictated by indignation against what is blameworthy. C. J. Smith.

Webster 1913