Synonyms of 'abusive'

Explore 'abusive' in the dictionary

1 (adjective) in the sense of violenta cruel and abusive partner

Synonyms

violent

He was a violent man with a drink and drugs problem.

wild

When drunk, he became wild and violent.

rough

I was a bit rough with you this morning.

cruel

They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.

the persecution of prisoners by cruel officers

savage

This was a savage attack on a defenceless young girl.

brutal

He was the victim of a very brutal murder.

vicious

He suffered a vicious attack by a gang of youths.

destructive

the awesome destructive power of nuclear weapons

harmful

the harmful effects of smoking

maddened

hurtful

Her comments were very hurtful to Mrs Green's family.

unrestrained

impetuous

He tended to act in a heated and impetuous way.

homicidal

intemperate

the unwisely intemperate language of the party leader

raging

furious

A furious gunbattle ensued.

injurious

Stress in itself is not necessarily injurious.

maniacal

See examples for each synonym

Opposites

2 (adjective) in the sense of insulting

rude or insulting

He was alleged to have used abusive language.

Synonyms

insulting

One of the workers made an insulting remark to a supervisor.

offensive

offensive remarks about minority groups

rude

He's rude to her friends.

maligning

affronting

She gave a contemptuous little laugh and walked away.

disparaging

He was alleged to have made disparaging remarks.

castigating

reviling

vilifying

invective

scurrilous

scurrilous rumours

defamatory

The article was highly defamatory.

insolent

They can be insolent and difficult to get along with.

She claimed the articles were libellous and damaging.

upbraiding

vituperative

one of journalism's most vituperative critics

reproachful

She gave her a reproachful look.

slanderous

He wanted an explanation for what he described as `slanderous' remarks.

traducing

opprobrious

calumniating

contumelious

See examples for each synonym

Opposites

praising

eulogistic

Additional synonyms

in the sense of brutal

cruel

He was the victim of a very brutal murder.

Synonyms

See examples for each synonym

in the sense of contemptuous

showing or feeling strong dislike or disrespect

She gave a contemptuous little laugh and walked away.

Synonyms

sneering,

haughty,

on your high horse (informal),

contumelious

See examples for each synonym

in the sense of cruel

deliberately causing pain without pity

They should spend a long time in jail to reflect on their cruel acts.

the persecution of prisoners by cruel officers

Synonyms

brutal,

ruthless,

callous,

sadistic,

inhumane,

hard,

fell (archaic),

severe,

harsh,

savage,

grim,

vicious,

unkind,

inhuman,

hellish (informal),

brutish,

stony-hearted,

See examples for each synonym

Video: pronunciation of 'abusive'

Nearby words of 'abusive'

abundant
abundantly
abuse
abusive
abusiveness
abut
abutment
All ENGLISH synonyms that begin with 'A'

Source

Thesaurus for abusive from the Collins English Thesaurus

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Determiners

Determiners are words that make the reference of nouns more specific. If I say‘ this car’ it is clear that I mean a particular car which is near me. If I change it to‘ my car’ I am saying somethin...