| abuse | | |
| n. (act) | 1. abuse, ill-treatment, ill-usage, maltreatment | cruel or inhumane treatment.; "the child showed signs of physical abuse" |
| ~ mistreatment | the practice of treating (someone or something) badly.; "he should be punished for his mistreatment of his mother" |
| ~ 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. |
| n. (communication) | 2. abuse, contumely, insult, revilement, vilification | 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" |
| ~ discourtesy, disrespect | an expression of lack of respect. |
| ~ low blow | unscrupulous abuse. |
| ~ billingsgate, scurrility | foul-mouthed or obscene abuse. |
| ~ stinger, cut | a remark capable of wounding mentally.; "the unkindest cut of all" |
| ~ invective, vituperation, vitriol | abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will. |
| n. (act) | 3. abuse, misuse | improper or excessive use.; "alcohol abuse"; "the abuse of public funds" |
| ~ usage, use, utilisation, utilization, exercise, employment | the act of using.; "he warned against the use of narcotic drugs"; "skilled in the utilization of computers" |
| ~ drug abuse, substance abuse, habit | excessive use of drugs. |
| v. (social) | 4. abuse, ill-treat, ill-use, maltreat, mistreat, step | treat badly.; "This boss abuses his workers"; "She is always stepping on others to get ahead" |
| ~ do by, treat, handle | interact in a certain way.; "Do right by her"; "Treat him with caution, please"; "Handle the press reporters gently" |
| ~ kick around | treat badly; abuse.; "They won't have me to kick around any more!" |
| v. (change) | 5. abuse, misuse, pervert | change the inherent purpose or function of something.; "Don't abuse the system"; "The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers" |
| ~ fracture | violate or abuse.; "This writer really fractures the language" |
| ~ expend, use | use up, consume fully.; "The legislature expended its time on school questions" |
| ~ take in vain | use a name, such as God, without proper respect. |
| v. (communication) | 6. abuse, blackguard, clapperclaw, shout | use foul or abusive language towards.; "The actress abused the policeman who gave her a parking ticket"; "The angry mother shouted at the teacher" |
| ~ slang | abuse with coarse language. |
| ~ revile, vilify, vituperate, rail | spread negative information about.; "The Nazi propaganda vilified the Jews" |
| ~ lash out, attack, assail, assault, snipe, round | attack in speech or writing.; "The editors of the left-leaning paper attacked the new House Speaker" |
| ~ curse | heap obscenities upon.; "The taxi driver who felt he didn't get a high enough tip cursed the passenger" |
| v. (change) | 7. abuse | use wrongly or improperly or excessively.; "Her husband often abuses alcohol"; "while she was pregnant, she abused drugs" |
| ~ expend, use | use up, consume fully.; "The legislature expended its time on school questions" |
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