abuse

[v. uh-byooz; n. uh-byoos] /v. əˈbyuz; n. əˈbyus/
verb (used with object), abused, abusing.
1.
to use wrongly or improperly; misuse:
to abuse one's authority.
2.
to treat in a harmful, injurious, or offensive way:
to abuse a horse; to abuse one's eyesight.
3.
to speak insultingly, harshly, and unjustly to or about; revile; malign.
4.
to commit sexual assault upon.
5.
Obsolete. to deceive or mislead.
noun
6.
wrong or improper use; misuse:
the abuse of privileges.
7.
harshly or coarsely insulting language:
The officer heaped abuse on his men.
8.
bad or improper treatment; maltreatment:
The child was subjected to cruel abuse.
9.
a corrupt or improper practice or custom:
the abuses of a totalitarian regime.
10.
rape or sexual assault.
11.
Obsolete, deception.
Idioms
12.
abuse oneself, to masturbate.
Origin
1400-50; (v.) late Middle English abusen < Middle French abuser, verbal derivative of abus < Latin abūsus misuse, wasting, equivalent to abūt(ī) to use up, misuse (ab- ab- + ūtī to use) + -tus suffix of v. action; (noun) late Middle English abus < Middle French abus or Latin abūsus
Related forms
abusable
[uh-byoo-zuh-buh l] /əˈbyu zə bəl/ (Show IPA), adjective
abuser, noun
antiabuse, adjective
overabuse, noun, verb (used with object), overabused, overabusing.
unabusable, adjective
unabused, adjective
Synonyms
1. misapply. 2. ill-use, maltreat, injure, harm, hurt. 3. vilify, vituperate, berate, scold; slander, defame, calumniate, traduce. 6. misapplication. 7. slander, aspersion. Abuse, censure, invective all mean strongly expressed disapproval. Abuse implies an outburst of harsh and scathing words against another (often one who is defenseless): abuse directed against an opponent. Censure implies blame, adverse criticism, or hostile condemnation: severe censure of acts showing bad judgment. Invective applies to strong but formal denunciation in speech or print, often in the public interest: invective against graft.
Antonyms
3, 7. praise.
Examples from the web for abuse
  • When used as a pejorative, however, it is still considered by many to be a term of abuse.
  • The novel explores what causes drug abuse and what sustains it in its many forms.
  • Substance abuse and unavailability or lack of needed services.
  • For information about the form of substance abuse known as huffing, see inhalant.
  • There is a positive statistical correlation between selfinjury and emotional abuse.
  • There was no evidence of abuse or trafficking of the drug in the united states.
  • Unlawful detention or illegal confiscation of property are examples of such abuse.
  • Continued land abuse during droughts, however, increases land degradation.
  • This includes child abuse, particularly emotional abuse such as ridicule.
  • The main risk of acute barbiturate abuse is respiratory depression.
British Dictionary definitions for abuse

abuse

verb (transitive) (əˈbjuːz)
1.
to use incorrectly or improperly; misuse
2.
to maltreat, esp physically or sexually
3.
to speak insultingly or cruelly to; revile
4.
(reflexive) to masturbate
noun (əˈbjuːs)
5.
improper, incorrect, or excessive use; misuse
6.
maltreatment of a person; injury
7.
insulting, contemptuous, or coarse speech
8.
an evil, unjust, or corrupt practice
9.
See child abuse
10.
(archaic) a deception
Derived Forms
abuser, noun
Word Origin
c14 (vb): via Old French from Latin abūsus, past participle of abūtī to misuse, from ab-1 + ūtī to use
Word Origin and History for abuse
v.

early 15c., "to misuse, misapply," from Middle French abuser, from Vulgar Latin *abusare, from Latin abusus "an abusing, using up," past participle of abuti "use up," also "misuse," from ab- "away" (see ab-) + uti "use" (see use). Of sexual situations from early 15c., but originally incest, homosexuality, prostitution, etc.; meaning "to misuse sexually, ravish" is from 1550s. Specifically of drugs, from 1968. Related: Abused; abusing.

n.

mid-15c., "improper practice," from Old French abus (14c.), from Latin abusus (see abuse (v.)). Earlier in Middle English was abusion "wicked act or practice, shameful thing, violation of decency" (early 14c.), "an insult" (mid-14c.).

abuse in Medicine

abuse a·buse (ə-byōōz')
v. a·bused, a·bus·ing, a·bus·es

  1. To use wrongly or improperly; misuse.

  2. To hurt or injure physically by maltreatment.

  3. To assail with contemptuous, coarse, or insulting words; revile.

n. (ə-byōōs')

  1. Improper use or handling, as of a drug; misuse.

  2. Physical maltreatment, as of a spouse or child.

  3. Insulting or coarse language.

a·bus'er n.