ABUSE

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does abuse mean? 

• ABUSE (noun)
  The noun ABUSE has 3 senses:

1. cruel or inhumane treatment

2. a rude expression intended to offend or hurt

3. improper or excessive use

  Familiarity information: ABUSE used as a noun is uncommon.

• ABUSE (verb)
  The verb ABUSE has 4 senses:

1. treat badly

2. change the inherent purpose or function of something

3. use foul or abusive language towards

4. use wrongly or improperly or excessively

  Familiarity information: ABUSE used as a verb is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ABUSE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cruel or inhumane treatment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

abuse; ill-treatment; ill-usage; maltreatment

Context example:

the child showed signs of physical abuse

Hypernyms ("abuse" is a kind of...):

mistreatment (the practice of treating (someone or something) badly)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abuse"):

child abuse (the physical or emotional or sexual mistreatment of children)

child neglect (failure of caretakers to provide adequate emotional and physical care for a child)

persecution (the act of persecuting (especially on the basis of race or religion))

cruelty; inhuman treatment (a cruel act; a deliberate infliction of pain and suffering)

Derivation:

abuse (treat badly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A rude expression intended to offend or hurt

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

abuse; contumely; insult; revilement; vilification

Context example:

they yelled insults at the visiting team

Hypernyms ("abuse" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abuse"):

low blow (unscrupulous abuse)

billingsgate; scurrility (foul-mouthed or obscene abuse)

cut; stinger (a remark capable of wounding mentally)

invective; vitriol; vituperation (abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will)

Derivation:

abuse (use foul or abusive language towards)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Improper or excessive use

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

abuse; misuse

Context example:

the abuse of public funds

Hypernyms ("abuse" is a kind of...):

employment; exercise; usage; use; utilisation; utilization (the act of using)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abuse"):

drug abuse; habit; substance abuse (excessive use of drugs)

Derivation:

abuse (change the inherent purpose or function of something)

• ABUSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they abuse ... he / she / it abuses
Past simple: abused   
Past participle: abused   
-ing form: abusing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Treat badly

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

abuse; ill-treat; ill-use; maltreat; mistreat; step

Context example:

She is always stepping on others to get ahead

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

do by; handle; treat (interact in a certain way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "abuse"):

kick around (treat badly; abuse)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They want to abuse the prisoners

Derivation:

abuse (cruel or inhumane treatment)

abuser (someone who abuses)

abusive (characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Change the inherent purpose or function of something

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

abuse; misuse; pervert

Context example:

The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

expend; use (use up, consume fully)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "abuse"):

fracture (violate or abuse)

take in vain (use a name, such as God, without proper respect)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

abuse (improper or excessive use)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Use foul or abusive language towards

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

abuse; blackguard; clapperclaw; shout

Context example:

The angry mother shouted at the teacher

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

assail; assault; attack; lash out; round; snipe (attack in speech or writing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "abuse"):

slang (abuse with coarse language)

rail; revile; vilify; vituperate (spread negative information about)

curse (heap obscenities upon)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

abuse (a rude expression intended to offend or hurt)

abuser (someone who abuses)

abusive (expressing offensive reproach)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Use wrongly or improperly or excessively

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

while she was pregnant, she abused drugs

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

expend; use (use up, consume fully)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Child abuse is a serious problem.

(Child Abuse, NIH)

Mr. Bennet, how can you abuse your own children in such a way?

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)

Depression is a major cause of disability around the world, and if left untreated, can lead to substance abuse, anxiety and suicide.

(Depression - men far more at risk than women in deprived areas, University of Cambridge)

These include self-guided or group psychological interventions, training for families and school staff, community mental health programmes and initiatives to prevent substance abuse, self-harm and suicide.

(Half of mental health disorders arise in adolescence, SciDev.Net)

But chronic damage in conditions such as alcohol abuse, fatty liver disease and certain viral infections, leads to impaired regeneration and cirrhosis (scarring), with eventual loss of liver function.

(Regeneration mechanism discovered in mice could provide target for drugs to combat chronic liver disease, University of Cambridge)

He no longer abused himself with short sleep, overwork, and overstudy.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

In the midst of the abuse he sprang to his feet.

(Love of Life and Other Stories, by Jack London)

He ran the gamut of denunciation, rising to heights of wrath that were sublime and almost Godlike, and from sheer exhaustion sinking to the vilest and most indecent abuse.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

A sedative, hypnotic agent that was used for insomnia, but was taken off of the market, in the U.S., in 1983 due to its high risk of abuse.

(Methaqualone, NCI Thesaurus)

He ended a string of abuse by a vicious backhander, which I failed to entirely avoid.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)