abuse

Pluralabuses (some meanings)

Formsabuses, abusing, abused

1. 1
   cruel treatmentnoununcountable

   Cruel or violent treatment that hurts a person or animal in body or mind.

   The rescued dog showed clear signs of abuse.

   Years of abuse left lasting scars on the children.

   UsagePeople say child abuse or signs of abuse, usually with no a.

   Similarmistreatment, maltreatment, cruelty, violence, assault

2. 2
   misusenouncountable or uncountable

   Using something in a wrong or unfair way, or a dishonest practice.

   Like using a butter knife as a screwdriver: the wrong job for the tool.

   The abuse of power by leaders angers many people.

   Email systems need rules to stop abuse.

   UsageSay abuse of something, as in abuse of power.

   Note
3. 3
   treat cruellyverbtransitive

   To hurt or treat someone in a cruel way, often again and again.

   He would abuse the dog whenever he was angry.

   No one should abuse a child in their care.

   UsagePeople often say an abused child or an abused animal.

   Similarhurt, harm, injure, mistreat, maltreat

   Note
4. 4
   sexual assaultnoununcountable

   Sexual acts forced on someone, or done to someone who cannot agree, like a child.

   She reported the abuse only after he had touched her against her will for months.

   Support groups help young survivors of sexual abuse recover.

   UsageOften said as sexual abuse.

   Similarmolestation

5. 5
   verbtransitive

   To use something in a wrong or harmful way.

   Some officials abuse their power for personal gain.

   Don't abuse the trust your friends place in you.

   UsageYou abuse a thing, as in abuse your power or someone's trust.

   Similarmisuse, exploit, misapply

6. 6
   verbtransitive

   To take a drug in a harmful way, such as too much or just for fun.

   Some patients abuse painkillers to feel relaxed.

   He began to abuse prescription pills after his injury.

   UsagePeople also say drug abuse for this.

   Similarmisuse

7. 7
   noununcountable

   Rude, insulting words said to hurt or anger someone.

   The referee faced a stream of abuse from angry fans.

   She hung up after hearing more abuse on the phone.

   UsageSay shout abuse at someone or a stream of abuse, with no a before abuse.

   Similarinsult, invective, opprobrium, contumely

   Oppositepraise, acclaim

   Note
8. 8
   use sexuallyverbtransitive

   To force sexual acts on a person, or in older use, to touch oneself sexually.

   An old church book told boys that to abuse themselves in secret was a sin.

   Through “wantonness,” or just by being “idle and alone,” or by the instruction of intimates, the young learn to abuse themselves without learning how wrong and dangerous it is.

   2003, Thomas W. Laqueur, Solitary Sex: A Cultural History of MasturbationHere, to abuse themselves means to touch themselves sexually.

   UsageToday people say sexually abuse someone. Abuse oneself is an old phrase for touching oneself sexually.

   Note

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