abuse
1. cruel or inhumane treatment (Freq. 1)
- the child showed signs of physical abuse
• Syn:
maltreatment, ill-treatment, ill-usage
• Derivationally related forms:
ill-use (for: ill-usage), ill-treat (for: ill-treatment), maltreat (for: maltreatment)
• Hypernyms:
mistreatment
• Hyponyms:
child abuse, child neglect, persecution, cruelty, inhuman treatment
2. a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
- when a student made a stupid mistake he spared them no abuse
- they yelled insults at the visiting team
• Syn:
insult, revilement, contumely, vilification
• Derivationally related forms:
vilify (for: vilification), contumelious (for: contumely), revile (for: revilement), insult (for: insult)
• Hypernyms:
disrespect, discourtesy
• Hyponyms:
low blow, scurrility, billingsgate, stinger, cut,
vituperation, invective, vitriol
3. improper or excessive use
- alcohol abuse
- the abuse of public funds
• Syn:
misuse
• Derivationally related forms:
misuse (for: misuse)
• Hypernyms:
use, usage, utilization, utilisation, employment, exercise
• Hyponyms:
substance abuse, drug abuse, habit
1. treat badly (Freq. 3)
- This boss abuses his workers
- She is always stepping on others to get ahead
• Syn:
mistreat, maltreat, ill-use, step, ill-treat
• Derivationally related forms:
ill-treatment (for: ill-treat), ill-usage (for: ill-use), abusive, abuser, maltreatment (for: maltreat), maltreater (for: maltreat), mistreatment (for: mistreat)
• Hypernyms:
treat, handle, do by
• Hyponyms:
kick around
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Somebody ----s something PP (for: step)
- They want to abuse the prisoners
2. change the inherent purpose or function of something (Freq. 2)
- Don't abuse the system
- The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers
• Syn:
pervert, misuse
• Derivationally related forms:
misuse (for: misuse), perversion (for: pervert)
• Hypernyms:
use, expend
• Hyponyms:
fracture, take in vain
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
3. use foul or abusive language towards
- The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket
- The angry mother shouted at the teacher
• Syn:
clapperclaw, blackguard, shout
• Derivationally related forms:
abusive, abuser
• Hypernyms:
attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault
• Hyponyms:
slang, vilify, revile, vituperate, rail, curse
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s somebody
- Somebody ----s PP (for: shout)
4. use wrongly or improperly or excessively
- Her husband often abuses alcohol
- while she was pregnant, she abused drugs
• Hypernyms:
use, expend
• Verb Frames:
- Somebody ----s something
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