Standard Lemma guide
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
noun
Improper treatment or usage; application to a wrong or bad purpose; an unjust, corrupt or wrongful practice or custom.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: abusage
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Misuse; improper use; perversion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
A delusion; an imposture; misrepresentation; deception.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, obsolete, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Coarse, insulting speech; abusive language; language that unjustly or angrily vilifies.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
Synonyms: invective, contumely, reproach, scurrility, insult, opprobrium
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Catachresis.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: abusio
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Physical maltreatment; injury; cruel treatment.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Violation; defilement; rape; forcing of undesired sexual activity by one person on another, often on a repeated basis.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: countable, uncountable
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To put to a wrong use; to misapply; to use improperly; to use for a wrong purpose or end; to pervert
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To injure; to maltreat; to hurt; to treat with cruelty, especially repeatedly.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: maltreat, injure, abuse, annoy, bewound, damage, damnify, dere, do damage to, do for, do ill, do violence to, forwork, grieve, harm, harrow, hurt, maul, mayhem, misdo, put someone in hospital, scaith, scathe, vulnerate, wet, wound, afflict, aggrieve, do evil, do harm, ill-treat, ill-use, make mischief, mistreat, molest, oppress, outrage, overburden, pain, persecute, run down, trample on, tread on, weigh down, weigh heavy on
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To attack with coarse language; to insult; to revile; malign; to speak in an offensive manner to or about someone; to disparage.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: misuse, vitriol, vituperate, abuse, affront, burn, carry, cut down, disrespect, dis, diss, give stick, heckle, hurt someone's feelings, insult, lapidate, qualifier, misbid, misrespect, offend, send, scandal, scandalize, slag, slag off, sledge, slight, slur, sneap, spite, wound, call names, flame, name-call, revile
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To imbibe a drug for a purpose other than it was intended; to intentionally take more of a drug than was prescribed for recreational reasons; to take illegal drugs habitually.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To violate; defile; to rape; (reflexive) to masturbate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: archaic, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: outrage, ravish, self-abuse, touch oneself, abuse, constuprate, defile, defoul, dishonour, force, misuse, oppress, pollute, rape, ravage, r-word, scotch, turn out, violate, viole, vitiate, grape, bash one out, bate, beat it, beat off, crank one out, fap, frig, goon, jack off, jack it, jerk, jerk it, jerk the gherkin, jerk off, jerk one off, jerk one out, jork it, knock one out, make the bald man cry, masturbate, mastuprate, play pocket pool, play with oneself, pleasure oneself, rub one off, rub one out, self-pollute, service oneself, skeet, stroke, toss, toss off, wank, wank off, whack off, yank
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Misrepresent; adulterate.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
To deceive; to trick; to impose on; misuse the confidence of.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: obsolete, transitive
Synonyms: con, hustle, abuse, beglammer, counterfeit, deceive, dissemble, dissimulate, feign, jiff, lead astray, overreach, put on, spoof, sham, trick
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Disuse.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: Scotland, obsolete, transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
cruel or inhumane treatment
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: maltreatment, ill-treatment, ill-usage
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: mistreatment
Narrower terms: child abuse, child neglect, persecution, cruelty, inhuman treatment
noun
improper or excessive use
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: misuse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: use, usage, utilization, utilisation, employment, exercise
Narrower terms: substance abuse, drug abuse, habit
noun
a rude expression intended to offend or hurt
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: insult, revilement, contumely, vilification
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: disrespect, discourtesy
Narrower terms: low blow, scurrility, billingsgate, stinger, cut, vituperation, invective, vitriol
verb
change the inherent purpose or function of something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: pervert, misuse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: use, expend
Narrower terms: fracture, take in vain
verb
use wrongly or improperly or excessively
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: use, expend
verb
use foul or abusive language towards
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: clapperclaw, blackguard, shout
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: attack, round, assail, lash out, snipe, assault
Narrower terms: slang, vilify, revile, vituperate, rail, curse
verb
treat badly
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Synonyms: mistreat, maltreat, ill-use, step, ill-treat
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: treat, handle, do by
Narrower terms: kick around
History
From Middle English abusen, then from either Old French abus (“improper use”), or from Latin abūsus (“misused, using up”), perfect active participle of abūtor (“make improper use of, consume, abuse”), from ab (“away”) + ūtor (“to use”). Equivalent to ab- + use.
From Middle English abusen, from Middle French abuser, from Latin abūsus (“misused, using up”), perfect active participle of abūtor (“to use up, misuse, consume”), from ab (“from, away from”) + ūtor (“to use”).
Across languages
403 source translations are retained for this English entry.
