Library / English Dictionary

ABUSE

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Cruel or inhumane treatment

Example:

the child showed signs of physical abuse

Synonyms:

abuse; ill-treatment; ill-usage; maltreatment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("abuse" is a kind of...):

mistreatment (the practice of treating (someone or something) badly)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abuse"):

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)

Derivation:

abuse (treat badly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Improper or excessive use

Example:

the abuse of public funds

Synonyms:

abuse; misuse

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("abuse" is a kind of...):

employment; exercise; usage; use; utilisation; utilization (the act of using)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abuse"):

drug abuse; habit; substance abuse (excessive use of drugs)

Derivation:

abuse (change the inherent purpose or function of something)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A rude expression intended to offend or hurt

Example:

they yelled insults at the visiting team

Synonyms:

abuse; contumely; insult; revilement; vilification

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("abuse" is a kind of...):

discourtesy; disrespect (an expression of lack of respect)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "abuse"):

low blow (unscrupulous abuse)

billingsgate; scurrility (foul-mouthed or obscene abuse)

cut; stinger (a remark capable of wounding mentally)

invective; vitriol; vituperation (abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will)

Derivation:

abuse (use foul or abusive language towards)

 II. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Change the inherent purpose or function of something

Example:

The director of the factory misused the funds intended for the health care of his workers

Synonyms:

abuse; misuse; pervert

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

expend; use (use up, consume fully)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "abuse"):

fracture (violate or abuse)

take in vain (use a name, such as God, without proper respect)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

abuse (improper or excessive use)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Use wrongly or improperly or excessively

Example:

while she was pregnant, she abused drugs

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

expend; use (use up, consume fully)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Sense 3

Meaning:

Use foul or abusive language towards

Example:

The angry mother shouted at the teacher

Synonyms:

abuse; blackguard; clapperclaw; shout

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

assail; assault; attack; lash out; round; snipe (attack in speech or writing)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "abuse"):

slang (abuse with coarse language)

rail; revile; vilify; vituperate (spread negative information about)

curse (heap obscenities upon)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Derivation:

abuse (a rude expression intended to offend or hurt)

abuser (someone who abuses)

abusive (expressing offensive reproach)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Treat badly

Example:

She is always stepping on others to get ahead

Synonyms:

abuse; ill-treat; ill-use; maltreat; mistreat; step

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "abuse" is one way to...):

do by; handle; treat (interact in a certain way)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "abuse"):

kick around (treat badly; abuse)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

They want to abuse the prisoners

Derivation:

abuse (cruel or inhumane treatment)

abuser (someone who abuses)

abusive (characterized by physical or psychological maltreatment)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Abuse of children in a family, institutional, or other setting.

(Child Abuse and Neglect, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)

Your life experiences, such as stress or a history of abuse, may also matter.

(Mental Disorders, NIH)

When misused or abused, opioid pain relievers can be addictive and dangerous.

(Designing more effective opioids, NIH)

The study of the genetic factors of behavioral phenotypes such as eating or mating activity, substance abuse, social attitudes, violence, and mental abilities.

(Behavioral Genetics, NCI Thesaurus)

Antidepressants such as Prozac inhibit reuptake of serotonin and many drugs of abuse such as cocaine act by blocking reuptake of dopamine or adrenaline.

(Attenuation of GPCR Signaling Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

It may be caused by long-term use of steroid medicines, alcohol abuse, joint injuries, and certain diseases, such as cancer and arthritis.

(Aseptic necrosis, NCI Dictionary)

For example, alcohol abuse can cause fetal alcohol syndrome.

(Birth Defects, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

They include health problems in the mother, genetic factors, problems with the placenta and substance abuse by the mother.

(Birth Weight, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

In addition to the illicit use of cannabinoids as drugs of abuse, the pharmaceutical use of natural and synthetic cannabinoids is being intensely studied, including a possible role in neurodegenerative diseases.

(Anandamide Metabolism Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Abuse of anabolic steroids has been linked with many health problems.

(Anabolic Steroids, NIH: National Institute on Drug Abuse)