abuse
Definitions
verb
(tr)- to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse
- to maltreat, esp physically or sexually
- to speak insultingly or cruelly to; revile
- (reflexive) to masturbate
noun
- improper, incorrect, or excessive use; misuse
- maltreatment of a person; injury
- insulting, contemptuous, or coarse speech
- an evil, unjust, or corrupt practice
- See child abuse
- archaic a deception
Alternative Forms
aˈbuser nounWord Origin
c14 (vb): via Old French from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī to misuse, from ab-c14 (vb): via Old French from Latin past participle of to misuse, from 1 + to + ūtī to useSynonyms
View thesaurus entry=
maltreatment,
wrong,
damage,
injury,
hurt,
harm,
spoiling,
bullying,
oppression,
imposition,
mistreatment,
manhandling,
ill-treatment,
rough handling
=
insults,
blame,
slights,
curses,
cursing,
put-downs,
libel,
censure,
reproach,
scolding,
defamation,
indignities,
offence,
tirade,
derision,
slander,
rudeness,
vilification,
invective,
swear words,
opprobrium,
insolence,
upbraiding,
aspersions,
character assassination,
disparagement,
vituperation,
castigation,
contumely,
revilement,
traducement,
calumniation,
=
ill-treat,
wrong,
damage,
hurt,
injure,
harm,
mar,
spoil,
oppress,
maul,
molest,
dump on,
impose upon
manhandle,
rough up,
brutalize,
shit on
maltreat,
misapply,
handle roughly knock about or around
Translations
- British English:
abuse
Abuse of someone is cruel and violent treatment of them....investigation of alleged sexual abuse.əˈbjuːs NOUN ...investigation of alleged sexual abuse. - Spanish:
abuso
nm
- French:
mauvais traitement
nm
- German:
Missbrauch
nm Missbräuche
- Chinese: 侵犯 n
- Arabic: سُوْءُ الاِسْتِعْمال n
- Portuguese: abuso nm
- Russian: оскорбление nnt
- Croatian: zlouporaba nf
- Czech: zneužívání nnt
- Danish: misbrug nnt
- Dutch: misbruik nnt
- Finnish: pahoinpitely n
- Greek: κακοποίηση nf
- Italian: abuso nm
- Japanese: 虐待 n
- Korean: 남용 n
- Norwegian: misbruk nnt
- Polish: nadużycie nnt
- Brazilian Portuguese: abuso nm
- European Spanish:
abuso
nm
- Swedish: missbruk nnt
- Thai: การข่มเหง n
- Turkish: taciz n
- Vietnamese: sự lạm dụng n
- British English:
abuse
If someone is abused, they are treated cruelly and violently.She had been abused by her father since she was eleven.əˈbjuːz VERB She had been abused by her father since she was eleven.
- Spanish:
abusar
v
- French:
maltraiter
vt
- German:
missbrauchen
v
- Chinese: 侵犯 v
- Arabic: يُؤْذِي v
- Portuguese: abusar v
- Russian: оскорблять v
- Croatian: zlouporabiti v
- Czech: zneužít v zneužívat
- Danish: misbruge v
- Dutch: misbruiken v
- Finnish: käyttää väärin v
- Greek: κακοποιώ v
- Italian: abusare v
- Japanese: 濫用する v
- Korean: 남용하다 v
- Norwegian: misbruke v
- Polish: nadużyć v nadużywać
- Brazilian Portuguese: abusar v
- European Spanish:
abusar
v
- Swedish: missbruka v
- Thai: ข่มเหง v
- Turkish: kötüye kullanmak v
- Vietnamese: lạm dụng v
Usage examples
According to Findlay there were all kinds of rumours about what was going on at Carisbrook, including patient abuse.
, LOST SUMMER (2002)It is the first time attention has been drawn to the potential confusion between HLH and child abuse injuries.
New Scientist (2003)It also linked the suicides of four other young men to abuse by the priest.
Irish Times (2002)The RC church in Scotland and England has established a child protection network to deal with past and present abuse.
Glasgow Herald (2001)Some of the people who have been abused use repression to create alternative identities, and some simply repress their memories of abuse.
, BEYOND FEAR (2002)